Follow up

Prior to discharge from hospital, a follow up plan will be formulated. For many patients, this will be specific appointments at, for example, two and six weeks following surgery. 

For patients undergoing more complex treatment, such as with an external fixator or a lengthening with a motorized nail, weekly review is initially required.  Close follow up is as important as the surgery itself – missed appointments can lead to bone healing too early, corrections failing, complications, and potentially further surgery. 

Outcomes

Prior to surgery commencing, the surgeon will clearly document the aims of surgery to be performed. This may be related to:

• Patient goals eg: length to be obtained, foot flat to the floor
• Child and parental happiness
• Appearance and function of the limb 

Regular follow up ensures that these goals have been met. Even if things are going ‘well’, it is important to attend regular follow up, as there may be factors to evaluate that are not initially evident to patients or families.

Research

For many operations and conditions, specific ‘outcome scores’ are used, as proven ways of evaluating how successful an operation has been, or to estimate how much a condition is impacting a patient’s life. These scores may be collected as part of your routine care.

In addition, The LR Team regularly undertakes research projects in which you may be asked to participate. Many projects simply involve the completion of questionnaires, with no changes made to the clinical care provided. In any case, the full details of any project or study will be discussed with you prior to participation. All projects will have been approved by the ethics committee of the Royal Children's Hospital and participation is on a voluntary basis.

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