Pink leg plaster looks cute, but it is no fun for this little girl and her family.
Like many clients I work with she is non-mobile and thus has poor bone health, her bonesmay be described as osteoporotic and having Low Bone Mineral Density.
Her fracture was “non-traumatic” caused at some time during her being moved or having her cares done. Thankfully Grandma recognised a change in the way her leg was moving and how it felt when she did her regular therapy program. Grandma sounded the alarm and off they went to A&E.
Non-mobile children need to be moved, not only to do their cares or to transfer them between seats/standing frames/bath etc. They need to be helped to use their muscles to move their limbs, and they need to be put in positions against gravity to improve their head control/posture. Moving and handling, and physiotherapy are imperative, but not without risks. Not moving children and not doing physiotherapy creates different problems and risks.
It is of the highest importance that families and their support teams are aware of the risks and are aware of steps they can take to reduce the risks.
There are recommended ways to handle; recommended ways to ensure limbs are supported well within hoist slings; recommended ways to push wheelchairs and to ensure limbs are not bumped when going through doors etc.
Little bumps that would be brushed off by able bodied children may cause fractures in disabled children. It is important to know the signs of a fracture to ensure immediate action is taken for treatment. It is important to be open and honest about what has happened – fractures may occur with no obvious fault, but there is always something to learn from what happened.
The APCP UK Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists have published an information leaflet on Bone Health:
https://lnkd.in/evtW4UX9
I would urge anyone working with or supporting families of children with disabilities to read this leaflet. Families and support teams need the information, and they need the confidence to know they are doing things correctly to minimise the risks.
Get in touch if you would like Liz Cowan to come and chat to your team about this issue.
