What is a hip spica cast used for?
A hip spica cast keeps your child’s pelvis and one or both legs from moving. This type of cast is used if a child has a broken bone in the thigh or has had hip surgery. The cast holds your child’s leg(s) in the right position for healing. It is made of Fiberglas® casting tape.
Are Hip Spica casts still used?
Hip spicas were formerly common in reducing femoral fractures, but today are rarely used except for congenital hip dislocations, and then mostly while the child is still an infant.
What is a double hip spica cast?
Bilateral hip spica cast (also known as double hip spica) used for pelvis, hip, or thigh (femur) fractures. also used to hold the hip or thigh muscles and tendons in place after surgery. long leg: applied from the chest to the feet, with a bar between both legs to keep the hips and legs immobile.
How long is Spica cast for hip dysplasia?
It will typically be on for 6 weeks to 3 months. Spica casts are most commonly used for infants with development hip dysplasia (DDH) and for young children with broken legs or who have had hip or pelvis surgery. Most people with hip dysplasia are born with it.
How long do you wear a spica cast?
Typical length of time for a spica cast is 12 weeks. Your doctor may want to perform a spica cast change in the operating room at 6 weeks. Your child will need general anesthesia to be put to sleep for the cast change.
Can you walk in a hip spica cast?
A hip spica body cast is used to keep your child’s hips and legs from moving after an injury and / or operation. It is not a walking cast; your child should not stand, bear weight or walk while in this cast.
Do adults get hip spica casts?
A hip cast is also called a hip spica cast. It corrects hip dysplasia and other conditions in infants and children. Adults often don’t use hip casts. If an adult has hip dysplasia, surgery can fix the condition.
How do you go to the bathroom in a spica cast?
Put a larger diaper over the cast as usual so that both the smaller, cut diaper, and the rest of your child’s bottom are covered. Depending on the position of the cast, your child may be able to sit on the toilet. If not, you will need to use a bedpan. Boys can use the urinal from the hospital.
Can a toddler walk in a spica cast?
Do not allow walking in a spica cast. This may disrupt the healing process. Some children do not fit safely in their car seat after they are in a spica cast.
How do you comfort a baby in spica cast?
How do you keep a child in a spica cast comfortable? The child may sit in whatever position is comfortable. Try using pillows, throw cushions or a bean bag chair to help prop her up. Small children can be pulled around in a wagon or stroller.
How much does a spica cast cost?
Hard spica casts caused the most complications. As for material costs, the soft spica is the least costly method ($2 per cast versus $87-$107 for Pavlik harness and $150 for hard spica). In conclusion, soft spica casts are as effective as other treatment options for femoral shaft fractures in young children.