Spica casts (body casts) are used to treat femur fractures in younger children in order to avoid surgery or the placement of metal. They are also used for children who are born with hip dysplasia to maintain the position of the hip.

Cast placement

Spica casts are often placed in the operating room or in a similar setting while a child is sedated or under anesthesia. This is because the cast takes time to put on properly and care must be taken to place it in a way that it will do its intended job.

The cast will cover the lower part of the belly and waist and include one or both legs. The cast is left open between the child’s legs so that toileting and cleaning can take place. The reason for the cast will determine how long a child will need to be in it. In the case of hip dysplasia, for example, children may need to be in the cast for 12 to 18 weeks. In this case, the doctor may change the cast every six weeks.

Dealing with the cast

Cast Tips

• Watch the edges of the cast for signs of skin problems such as redness, abrasions or sores. Sharp edges can be filed down with a nail file. Padded edges can be protected with tape (duct tape works great).
• Discuss how to clean your child with your doctor- it often depends on the materials used to make the cast.
• In general, do not put anything down inside the cast. Things may get stuck or cause sores or scratches not visible because of the cast.

Clothing

A lot of clothing is not necessary as the cast will cover much of the body. Larger clothing will often fit over the cast (big t-shirts, long night shirts, or loose dresses). Break away pants can work well for older children. Clothes may be adapted by splitting along the seams and attaching Velcro strips to fasten around the cast. The toes and foot can be covered with a sock when cold.

Diet

• Avoid food or drink that may trigger diarrhea..
• Smaller, more frequent meals may avoid bloating and tightness of the cast

Toileting and diapering

• For children in diapers, tuck a smaller sized diaper into the front and back of the cast, under the cast edges. Then place a larger diaper over the cast to hold the inside diaper in place. This will help contain any mess.
• Positioning the child and the cast on a slight incline (head up) will allow gravity to encourage urine and stool to flow down into the diaper. The crib mattress can be slightly elevated on one end to facilitate positioning on an incline.
• The diaper should be checked frequently during the day (at least every 2 hours) and at least once overnight (every 4 hours). The diaper must be changed whenever soiled to prevent the cast from becoming soiled and to avoid diaper rash.
• With each diaper change, check for skin irritation, redness, blisters, or pressure spots.
• For older children, a bedpan and handheld urinal can be used. A wash cloth between the cast and skin may help prevent urine from leaking into the cast.

Bathing

• Give your child a sponge bath daily. Be careful not to get the cast lining wet.
• Avoid lotions, powders, and oils under the cast or around the cast edges. Powders tend to cake up and irritate the skin. Lotions and oils soften the skin and this may lead to a pressure spot from the cast.

Comfort, positioning and activity

• Provide activities to entertain your child, such as books, crafts, board games, etc. Place things within reach to keep them entertained.
• A hair dryer on a cool setting may help with itching or dampness; powders or creams are not recommended inside the cast.
• Pillows, cushions, or a bean bag can be used to prop up your child into a sitting position during the day. Changing the child’s position every 2 hours will help avoid a pressure sore.
• Protect the heels from pressure at all times, even if the feet are included inside the cast.

Transportation

• Special car seats or harnesses are often needed to fit the cast and child safely. The hospital may be able to assist with car seats.
• A stroller or wagon with pillows in the bottom may be useful for smaller children. A reclining wheelchair is helpful for larger, older children.

Download and Print Perthes Disease Educational Information

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The rounded head of the upper femur (thighbone) fits firmly into the socket of the pelvis, and together they make up the hip joint. In newborns and children with developmental hip dysplasia (DDH), the hip joint has not formed normally and the ball of the femur is loose in the socket. This usually means the hip is very easily dislocated.

Causes and risk factors

DDH tends to run in families, and is more common in:

• The left hip
• Girls
• Firstborn children
• Babies born in the breech position
• Family history of DDH
• Oligohydramnios patients (low levels of amniotic fluid)

Symptoms

DDH is most often present at birth, though it may develop during the first year of childhood. Some babies born with DDH may not present any symptoms initially.

Common signs of DDH include:

• Legs are different lengths
• Uneven skin folds on the thigh
• Less mobility or flexibility on one side
• Limping, walking on the toes, or waddling gait

Treatment

When DDH is diagnosed at birth, it can usually be treated conservatively with good results. If the condition is not diagnosed until a child begins walking, treatment can be a little more complicated.

Nonsurgical treatment options include:

• Harnesses to hold the hip in the proper position while allowing free movement of the legs
• Bracing or casting are used if a firmer material is needed to keep the joint in the proper position

In some cases, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon will need to reposition your child’s femur into the right position, and apply a cast to hold the bones in place. This procedure is performed while the child is under anesthesia. Surgery to correct DDH is sometimes necessary to realign the hip.

Download and Print Developmental Hip Dysplasia Educational Information

Perthes disease is a childhood condition of the hip that occurs when the blood supply to the rounded head of the femur is temporarily disrupted. The rounded head of the femur fits into the hip socket and helps make up the hip joint. If the bone does not have an adequate blood supply, it begins to die and over time will break down and lose its round shape. As time passes, the body will eventually restore blood supply to the bone and the bone will begin to heal. New bone cells will gradually replace the dead bone, but this process may take several years. If the ball of the femur is no longer round after it has healed, it can cause pain and stiffness.

Causes and risk factors

The underlying cause of the temporary disruption of blood flow to the femoral head is still unknown. The disease commonly affects children between the ages of 4 and 8, and is more common in boys than girls.

Symptoms

One of the earliest signs of Perthes disease is a change in the way your child walks or runs. This often is most apparent during sports or other activities; the child may have a limp, limited motion, or develop a different running style. Other common symptoms include:

• Pain or stiffness in the hip, groin, thigh, or knee
• Pain that worsens with activity and gets better with rest
• Muscle spasms around the hip

Treatment

The long-term prognosis for children with Perthes disease is generally good. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and other symptoms, protect the hip joint, and restore normal function of the hip joint. If left untreated, Perthes disease can lead to complications in adulthood, such as early onset arthritis. There are several treatment options for Perthes disease, and your orthopedic surgeon will consider several factors including age, degree of damage, and stage of the disease.

Nonsurgical treatment options for Perthes disease include:

• Observation through periodical x-rays
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Limiting activity and avoiding high impact activities
• Physical therapy
• Casting and bracing

Your doctor may recommend surgery to re-establish proper alignment of the hip joint if the damage is severe. Generally speaking, most children return to their daily activities without major limitation after 18 months to two years of treatment.

Download and Print Perthes Disease Educational Information

When hip pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion keep you from your daily activities, you may need a full joint replacement. For patients with arthritis, the most common source of debilitating hip pain, the goal of hip replacement is to restore function and decrease pain. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), hip replacement was first performed in 1960 and is one of the most successful operations in all of medicine.

Anatomy

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The socket is formed by part of the pelvic bone (acetabulum) and the ball is formed by the femoral head at the top of the thighbone (femur). The surfaces of the ball and socket are covered by a slippery tissue called articular cartilage. Normally, the cartilage coating over the bones makes the joint move smoothly and provides an additional shock-absorbent cushion. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage surface wears out and you begin rubbing bone on bone. This can cause pain, stiffness, and decreased motion to the hip joint.

Evaluation

An orthopedic surgeon will give you a thorough evaluation that includes your medical history, a physical exam to test hip mobility, strength, and alignment, and imaging tests such as x-ray or MRI to see the amount of damage in your hip.

Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Your doctor may recommend surgery if conservative treatment methods have not relieved your hip pain or allowed you to continue with daily activities. Total hip replacement surgery involves the removal of the arthritic surfaces of the hip joint and replacing them with total hip implants. The implants are designed to replicate the hip joint and are made with metal, polyethylene (a durable plastic), and/or ceramic. This allows the joint to move smoothly again.

Joint replacement is a major decision, and at The Center, your orthopedic surgeon will provide you with as much information as possible to choose the right procedure for you. Our surgeons stay current with advances in anesthesia, surgical techniques, and technology to offer both outpatient total joint replacement and total hip replacement with Makoplasty.

The pelvis is the sturdy ring structure located at the lower end of the trunk. The pelvic bones include the large triangular bone at the base of the spine (sacrum), the tailbone (coccyx), and the hip bones. The hip bones meet to form the hollow cup that serves as the socket for the hip joint, this is called the acetabulum.

Fractures of the pelvis and acetabulum are not very common. They generally occur as a result of a traumatic event such as a car collision or fall from a significant height. Because major nerves, blood vessels, and several organs pass through the pelvis, pelvic fractures may require urgent treatment. The care of patients with these injuries require a multidisciplinary approach. Doctors must address airway, breathing, and circulatory problems before addressing the fracture.

Symptoms

A fractured pelvis or acetabulum causes pain and an inability to bear weight. Sometimes there is also bruising, lacerations, hematomas, or swelling in the hip area.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your orthopedic surgeon will examine your pelvis, hips, and legs. He or she will test for stability by applying gentle compression. X-rays will be taken to determine how displaced the bones are.  A CT scan is also used to provide a more detailed image, it helps assess for asymmetry and rotation.

If the fracture is stable and the bones are not displaced, your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment. In order for displacement to occur, the pelvic ring has to be injured in at least two places. Crutches or a walker can be used to avoid bearing weight. Medication may be prescribed to relieve pain and avoid blood clots.

For unstable fractures, there are multiple fracture types and your surgeon will determine the best course of treatment. Your doctor may use external fixation to stabilize the pelvic region. This involves metal screws and pins being inserted into the bones and attached to a carbon fiber bar outside of the body to hold the bones in proper position until they heal. Internal fixation is a surgery where the displaced bone fragments are repositioned into their normal alignment. They are held together with screws or metal plates inside the body.

After hip surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will recommend you use crutches or a walker for a period of time to avoid bearing weight. Physical therapy is usually prescribed to regain flexibility, strength, and range of motion. Stable pelvic fractures tend to heal well. Unstable fractures may require multiple surgeries and may include other complications from additional injuries.

A fracture of the hip is a serious injury that refers to a break of the upper part of the femur, but it can also refer to a break of the pelvis.

Causes and risk factors

• The elderly are susceptible to fractures due to osteoporosis
• Forceful fall, collision, or blow
• Severe trauma

Treatment

Fractured hips are almost always treated with hip surgery. Surgical options may include metal pins, screws, plates, and rods, followed with splinting and physical rehabilitation.

Osteoarthritis is a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. It is common in the hip because it bears the weight of the body. Resulting from wear and overuse, osteoarthritis of the hip can severely impact a person’s lifestyle. Symptoms include hip pain, tenderness, a grating sensation while walking, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.

Causes and risk factors

• Aging
• Wear and tear
• Traumatic injury
• Genetic predisposition
• Obesity

Treatment

Without treatment, osteoarthritis usually worsens. Most treatments focus on relieving symptoms, including rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. If the hip continues to deteriorate, total hip replacement surgery may be needed.

As people are living longer with active lifestyles, hip pain is becoming more common. One of the leading causes of hip pain is a tear of the labrum in the hip. The labrum lines the hip socket and provides a smooth surface for the head of the femur to glide within the socket. Labral tears can cause a locking or catching sensation in the joint during certain movements. They can cause hip pain and interfere with the joint’s normal range of motion. This condition is more common in athletes, especially those with repetitive hip rotation, such as hockey, soccer, football, and golf.

Causes and risk factors

• Physical activity, especially repetitive motions
• Sports injury
• Sudden twisting motion
• Trauma or diseases that injure the bone or cartilage of the hip joint

Symptoms

The symptoms of a labral tear vary, but the pain is most commonly felt deep in the groin. Many hip labral tears cause no signs or symptoms. Occasionally, however, you may experience one or more of the following:

• A locking, clicking, or catching sensation in your hip joint
• Pain in your hip or groin
• Stiffness or limited range of motion in your hip joint

Treatment

Non-surgical treatments for labral tears include activity modification, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. Surgical repair or removal may be an option, depending on the severity of the tear. If conservative treatments don’t work, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend arthroscopic surgery, where a small camera and surgical tools are inserted via small incisions in your skin. Depending on the cause and extent of the tear, the surgeon may cut out and remove the torn piece of labrum or repair the torn tissue by sewing it back together.

Hip pain is typically associated with older adults, but everyone from young athletes to “weekend warriors” and even non-athletes can be at risk for developing this hip problem. Femoral-Acetabular Impingement (FAI) is caused when the hip bones do not form normally during the growing years. Abnormal rubbing at the hip joint causes damage to the cartilage and hip pain.

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The socket is formed by part of the pelvic bone (acetabulum), and the ball is formed by the femoral head at the top of the thighbone (femur). The surfaces of the ball and socket are covered by a slippery tissue called articular cartilage, which allows the joint to move without friction. The socket is lined with a strong fibrocartilage ring called the labrum that forms a gasket to create a tight seal and help provide stability to the joint.

Symptoms

• Pain in the groin or outer thigh
• Sharp pain when turning, twisting, or squatting
• The hip may also pop or catch
• Pain may increase during physical activity, or after periods of prolonged sitting or walking

Three types of FAI:

• Cam Impingement is caused when the femur’s head grows into a shape that is unevenly rounded and cannot rotate smoothly in the socket. Certain movements can cause the extra bone to catch against the edge of the socket, damaging the cartilage and labrum.
• Pincer Impingement is caused when extra bone grows along the socket’s rim, or when the socket is not angled properly, allowing the socket and femur to impact abnormally.
• In many cases, FAI is caused by a combination of cam and pincer types.

Diagnosis and treatment

Examination of the hip by an orthopedic hip specialist, x-rays, and sometimes an MRI are used to look for FAI deformity and labral tears. Treatment options can include changes in lifestyle that place less stress on the hip, physical therapy, or arthroscopic surgery. During this surgery, a small camera (called an arthroscope) is inserted into the joint and allows for a clear view of the hip ball and socket joint. This allows your orthopedics surgeon to look for the causes of your hip pain. The camera displays pictures onto a screen, and surgical instruments are guided into your hip to repair the joint.

Avascular Necrosis (AVN) occurs when a bone’s blood supply is disrupted. The bone cells die, and the dead bone weakens and may begin to fracture and collapse, leading to arthritis. It most commonly affects the head of the femur, but can also affect other bones in the body. Avascular necrosis causes hip pain and loss of mobility in the hip joint. Pain can be mild or severe, but usually develops gradually. Hip pain may be most noticeable during physical activity, but eventually the joint may hurt even when at rest.

Causes and risk factors

• Bone fracture
• Heavy alcohol use
• Joint dislocation
• Prolonged use of corticosteroids

Treatment

Although medications, exercises, and rest may slow the progression of the disease, avascular necrosis of the hip will typically need to be treated with surgery. Surgical options may include core decompression, bone reshaping, osteotomy, bone grafting or hip replacement.