MBA implants/Achilles Tendon Lengthening in Child...LONG! - Foot Problems Message Board

kristi1005 · 09-10-2008, 05:32 PM

Hello!

I am new to the boards, but kind of at a loss, and am looking for any and all opinions!

Our 6 year old son had severe flat feet that would cause him pain at night. The more active he got, the more times during the night he would be up crying in pain.

When he was 3 we had taken him to the Children's Hospital and they told us to do nothing, wait until he's a teenager.....so we waited and waited...but then as he got more active, the pain got worse, and he would even go days without walking....

So we took him to a podiatrist who recommended surgery for MBA implants and achilles tendon lengthening. He promised a quick surgery. 3 weeks in a wheelchair, casts would come off....he'd be good to go. We were beyond thrilled and said lets go for it! This was September last year...'07.

So basically 4 MONTHS go by, our son still cannot walk and is still in a wheelchair and doing physical therapy 3 x's a week. When he did start walking he walked like Frankenstein and couldn't bend his knees.

So we take him back to the Children's Hospital and met with an orthopedist. She tells us he never should have had the surgery. Hire an attorney. I'm in tears. Our son can't walk...it was awful. She wanted to do Botox injections and serial casting. We said we'd decide and get back to her.

So we get home and the front page on MSN is about children dying from Botox injections..i'm like...UMMM...no way! I just didn't want to put him through anymore pain at that point.

We talked it over and decided that we needed to meet with a podiatrist that does this surgery as the one who did it was AWFUL and just kept saying it was in our son's head and that's why he wasn't walking...ummm...hello...ya, you can't keep a 6 year old from walking...give me a break.

So the new podiatrist, we love instantly and he's just awesome. He did x-rays and found out that they were in the wrong spot and our son could feel them rub every step he took. Plus the original dr. put in the biggest implants they make.

So we take the old ones out and put new smaller ones in. Our son walks within 3 days. We're beyond thrilled. This was in April. Well, he is still walking with his right foot out and (like Frankenstein) and is having pain in the right. So we're going to remove that one. Poor kid 3 surgeries in a year.

My ? is I guess...I'm worried that it's not the implant doing this and it could be the achilles tendon lengthening or damage from the 1st big implant. And that we'll do this surgery and he'll still walk like this.

I feel awful and just don't know what to do.

Also, if the left is fine would you leave it in there or remove it anyway since he's had so much trouble...i don't want there to be trouble later....

And have any of you ever experienced this nightmare?

I appreciate any help....and just your time you took to read this novel!

xo,

Kristi

janewhite1 · 09-11-2008, 05:59 PM

Hi, Kristi, welcome to the foot board. I'm so sorry your little boy has been through so much pain and trouble.

There's nothing wrong with getting several opinions before you do anything else. I would definitely see an orthopedist who is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, there are probably several in the Twin Cities area.

Whatever you decide, my prayers are with you and your child.

hockeyplayer70 · 10-02-2008, 03:33 PM

Wow Kristi, I'm so sorry you have had to go through this. I can't imagine the guilt you must be going through but you did what you did to try to make things better for your son so you can't beat yourself up over it.

I came across your post looking for advice on getting this very procedure done in my daughters feet.

I had reconstructive surgery on my left foot a little of 2 yrs ago and have nothing but problems since and my 5 yr old daughter has flat feet and I have been advised to have MBA implants done when she turns 6. We've tried using orthotics for the last 2 yrs and they haven't made any difference. She complains about knee pain alot and I don't want her to have to go through what I have.

My advice to you would be to seek as many opinions as you can and start with the ones that are the least invasive. His problem might be correctable with orthotics, but surgeons tend to advise surgery to fix everything so they're going to recommend that first.

good luck and give your boy a hug. Once you get this fixed, he'll forget about it in no time and probably not even remember it.

andrea121 · 10-02-2008, 08:32 PM

I can't imagine how hard all of this must be for you and your son. I can say from my prespective that I wish that something like this was offered to me like ten years ago or more when I was still a young kid. I was 17 when i had my my first flat foot reconstruction surgery and achilles tendon lengthening. I was so made becuase i didnt want to have to be on crutches during highschool and prom and graduation. I didnt want the surgery, my mom pushed me the whole way. I wished that I could have had it done when i was a kid. Nobody wants the horrible things that you have had to go though however. I know it is hard when right now, but you knew something had to be done, and you have to have faith that eventually this will all work out. Your son will be running around and not even think of any of this in his future. I was face with bad knees when i was already 7, from my feet rolling inward so badly. My knee caps dislocated quite frequently, which was very painful. I am telling you this becuase if you get it fixed now then the future will look so much brighter. Everything will work out, I will pray for you and your family. Good luck and keep us all posted

jd0828 · 03-03-2011, 06:43 AM

My son is 10 and has had the pronating feet all of his life. It is not drastic and seemed to be getting better with inserts, but now that he is more active, he has pain in his feet, legs, and knees everyday. From the back his ankles go way over his feet when he walks. It is not too severe, but just really difficult. They recommended either MBA or orthodics that he would have to wear all the time... kind of hard with swim team. Anyway, has son improved now that the implants are corrected and such? I think we are doing both feet with implants and tendon lengthening.... really nervous! The orthopedic recommended bone grafting and that healing time was ridiculous.

Thanks.