Mirror Surgery

Gretchen had her podiatrist appointment yesterday to look at the CT scan and x-rays of her feet.  Her subtalar joint is fused.  Her ankle joint has adapted to do two jobs.  This has caused Gretchen's arch to collapse.  The doctor recommended surgery to unfuse the subtalar joint and to move a tendon in order to help her foot create an arch.

This news wasn't very welcomed by Gretchen, but I told her we can be in the foot surgery club together.  The doctor wanted to know what surgery I had on my foot.  I was 13; I didn't know what my doctor did.  Like my daughter, I was just scared at the idea of surgery.  Even more so since it was the second surgery for me.  I remembered I didn't like the first surgery.

Yesterday I had to take my shoe and sock off for the podiatrist.  He examined my foot and the scars and told Gretchen (and me) exactly what they meant.  I have two scars on my foot and a third higher up on my calf.  Because of my CP, my right foot had too high of an arch, and my doctor went in to lower it.  The scar on my calf is there to remove a tendon the doctor need to put on the inside of my foot.

The podiatrist then told Gretchen he will be doing the opposite surgical procedure on her.  He needs to move a tendon from one side of her foot and put it on the other to help her foot form an arch.  He said he will also unfuse her subtalar joint.  At her age she should regrow cartilage between the joints so arthritis should not be a problem.  When we got home, I looked up subtalar joint surgeries.  I've found it is a very common surgery to fuse the joint for patients with severe arthritis.  I couldn't find anything about unfusing the joint if it is nonexistent.

Then looking up pediatric flat feet, I did learn that the subtalar joint does play an important role in creating an arch.  And the show, The Drs even had an episode where they showed a podiatrist putting a subtalar implant in a 10 year old patient.  At the end of Gretchen's appointment yesterday, the doctor gave her homework - talk to your Mom she has a pretty good idea of what surgery will be like.  Last night after homework, Gretchen and I talked surgery.  I did have to remind her my surgery was 25 years ago, and I'm sure there have been quite a number of advancements.  We already know she'll be given a boot and foot scooter.  Mom had an ugly walking cast put on her foot that did not help me walk.

At this point it looks like Gretchen's surgery will be just before Christmas break.  She will have a three week down time.  Then another one to two weeks on crutches.  The doctor does not want her to miss a lot of school.  Yeah Mom and Dad are in agreement on that one.  The doctor also said we are able to wait until summer break.  Right now Mom's feeling out how Gretchen feels, and she appears to be accepting three weeks of being waited on over Christmas break.