Update on Todd, in 3rd cast

[Guest guest]

We just got home from Birmingham--Todd got his third cast today.

This cast goes over both shoulders to address the top (compensatory)

curve. Hoo boy, I'm thinking of all those other kids with over-

shoulder casts with a new understanding. It was not padded or taped

over the shoulders when Todd came back, either, so we stuffed paper

towels around his neck to stop the abrasions until we could get to

clinic for taping... It seems fine now, but really restricts his

movement.

Dr Khoury said it's a Risser style more than a Mehta style cast this

time, with differences in the window cutouts, but other than the back

window being larger, I can't really tell a whole lot of difference in

the windows.

Basically, the second cast did not do anything for Todd, even though it

got his lower curve down to 20 in the cast. His out of cast x-rays

were the same before and after it. So that's why Dr K changed his

technique this time, and he was able to get some correction on the top

curve. In cast #3, top curve is 20, lower is 19. Out of cast, top was

34, lower 28.

He said if this cast also does not give correction that holds once it's

off, he will put one more cast on Todd while we discuss bracing and

what to do next. So we are really hoping and praying this cast will be

the answer!

We are scheduled for 8 weeks in this cast. Unless he grows like a week

yet again...!

, Mommy to Todd