Hello. It’s been 6 years since Ava’s last illzarov frame which corrected her leg length deficiency by 6cm, and since my last blogpost. Obviously Ava has grown during this time and the difference is now at 4cm. We have decided to delay the next leg lengthening for a year and focus instead on her foot correction.

Ava hasn’t had much surgery over the past 6 years, the exception being a small operation last year to insert a metal plate in her knee to correct the alignment. This was performed as an outpatient and Ava was back on her feet within 2 weeks. 

Unfortunately we are now facing our next major procedure which is to correct the alignment of her ankle and heel (which are currently fused) and the positioning of her foot.

We are now 3 days pre operation and Ava is understandably very nervous and very aware as she’s now 12 years old. The operation will take around 4/5 hours and during that time her foot will be broken in several places and an illzarov frame will be attached with wires connected from the outside to inside of her foot (similar process to the leg lengthening).

An illzarov frame  looks like a form of medieval torture but it is the best way to correct complex deformities in bones as it’s a gradual process that puts less pressure on the various blood vessels, nerves and tendons surrounding the area. The aim of the frame is to move her ankle, heel and foot into a better position - 1mm per day. We have been told the frame will be on for 4 months, followed by 2 months in plaster casts. Ava will not be weight bearing during that time so unfortunately for her no walking, running, swimming or dance classes until January 2020. 

It feels a bit surreal at the moment for all of us but I’m sure on Monday once we arrive at the hospital things will hit home. Ava will be in hospital for around 10 days and we’ll be staying with her throughout (alternating sleeping there each night). I’ll update more post surgery but have included some before operation images.