broken leg question

[anniemae]

My dh fractured his leg. Went to dr. had cast put on and using crutches. Anyway, they told him to come back in six weeks. What will they do at the six week appt? Will they take off the cast and send him on his way, or will he get another cast put on (a soft cast, or walking cast)?

Has anyone gone through this? If so, how long did you wear the cast before you could walk on your leg again?

I know everyones exprience is different, I was just curious as to what to expect.

 

[tiggger1]

My son just broke his elbow, he had to go back weekly and get xrays because of swelling they couldnt see the break. He finally goes back on Tues and they are going to get another xray and if all looks good they will remove the cast and put him in a sling

 

[golfgal]

Most likely they will do an x-ray to check for healing and from that decide what to do. If it is healed they will take the cast off and send him on his way. They may have some physical therapy appointments or just exercises to do at home because the muscles will have atrophied. It looks weird to see that but the broken leg will be back to regular size in no time.

 

[bdcp]

Kids are usually healed in 6 weeks. Adults usually take 8 weeks to completely heal since they're not growing anymore so healing/bone replacement is slower. What did he fracture? I assume lower leg because upper leg fractures are much more serious. They will probably x-ray and maybe put him in a walking cast if he's healing well.

 

[rascalmom]

I broke my tib/fib a few years ago (both major bones right above the ankle). I had to have surgery to have pins & plates put in. Wore a cast for 6 weeks then went in for the follow up. I ended up getting the cast changed at that visit & work the cast for about 4 more weeks. After that, I was in a walking boot for another 6 weeks.

Let's just say I am very careful when stepping off curbs now. Wouldn't want to go through that again!

I hope your dh heals quickly.

 

[kirbsam]

umm. no one knows except your dr. maybe ask him or her. hope this helps.

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

It may be true that the doctor knows and she should ask him but how? when? If she / her husband are like most people she will not have any contact with the doctor until the 6wk appt. And that is a long time to live having no idea what is going to happen next?

Alot of Ortho docs see this stuff as typical, tell a person to come back in two/four/six weeks. Have a good day!

But for the rest of us this only happens to once or twice in a lifetime it is a very unsetteling time of our lives with lots of questions and no answers.

The disboards won't be able to tell her what will happen at her husband's six week appt but they can tell her about other personal experiences that they had with thier broken legs or other broken legs that they know of.

OP - Good luck. I'm sitting in your husbands seat right now. Had surgery on the 11th and he told my husband while I was still under to come see him on the 22nd. Other than generic discharge instructions that said non weight bearing and sponge baths, I know nothing. The waiting and the unknown sucks.

Michelle

 

[MomRN]

There will probably be an x-ray and then the dr. will decide from there.

I'm trying to remember the estimated healing time we learned in nursing school. I tried to google it but I didn't find any immediate results. Basically it was a basic rule that children typically heal in X weeks (4?6?) and I think each additional decade adds a week. But, it was just a general rule and I can't even remember the equation.

 

[shortbun]

The only broken limb we've experienced, my son broke his leg above his ankle, the doctor told us at the outset what would happen at the six weeks visit. Maybe we asked. DS started out in a walking cast that went up to his knee. When he got out of the cast, they gave him a limited activity schedule and crutches. I'm guessing it depends on the break, severity and location.