FEMUR FRACTURE

Hello my darling,

Yesterday you fractured your left femur.  It was such a shock because you were in the pool with Jackie your swimming teacher when it happened. 

Tammy got you to Dr Bekker's rooms and he suggested she take you straight to Entabeni Hospital for X-rays.  The pictures showed an oblique fracture, starting about mid shaft.

"Oblique fracture implies a fracture line that is oblique to the long axis of the bone. These fractures generally result from bending, with superimposed axial compression. As a result of the obliquity of the fracture line, this fracture tends to override or rotate unless traction is maintained throughout the period of healing."
Mark and Tammy think that the fracture might have started earlier, in the morning at home.  Tam said that you spilled your milk on the tiled floor and when you tried to turn over into a crawling position your hand slipped and you fell forward and banged your head.  This is when you could have put stress on the leg.  But, you didn't cry when she dressed you and took you to swimming although it is possible that there might have been a hairline stress fracture from the fall.  Kicking your legs in the water would have aggravated the fracture and extended it. 
The staff at Entabeni were very kind to you and your Mom.  Tammy carried you into the hospital and held you to her chest the whole time.  Eventually, at mid-day a private ward was made ready and she was able to lie on the bed, still holding you. The theatre nurse didn't wan't to cause you any further pain so we took you and Mom on the bed down to theatre.  Even then, they wheeled the two of you into the operting room and applied the mask whilst you were lying on your Mom.  You didn't even know what was happening.
Instead of traction, Dr Stead applied a spica cast under anaeasthetic. This is a half spica.  There is a band around your waist and a cast on one leg only.  When your Dad had spica casts they always put both legs into plaster and had a broomstick between the legs, usually just above the ankles.  Your cast looks easier to handle but it still means that you can't sit or bend from the waist.
Em, we are all so sad that you have had another break.  Your Mom and Dad especially hoped to be able to protect you and prevent fractures until you were at least 3 years old - just to give you a chance to develop and grow fracture free.  Unfortunately its just not possible to prevent all fractures - they occur with little or no trauma and when you least expect them to happen.
When Mark phoned to tell us that you were at the hospital Finn answered the phone.  Your Gumpy got into such a state I couldn't understand what he was saying.  When he managed to say that you had fractured your femur I just went cold.  It was like a nightmare.
Today Patty and I visited you for a while.  Tammy needed to do some shopping so we baby-sat you for a while.  I put you in your pram and took you for a walk outside.  You like being outdoors and soon you went to sleep in the pram.  Its going to be hard for your Mom to keep you occupied whilst you are in the cast but we will help as much as we can.
I love you little Em.  I wish there was more we could do to help you and your Mom and Dad.
Sleep tight my darling.
Silly