Ava and the Lateral Condyle Break

They said of the elbow breaks this is not the one you want to have, but of the ones you don't want to have, this is the one to have....  She did not require surgery or pins b/c her break did not displace the bone - very rare with this kind of break.  We are very thankful that she did not have to go through surgery!

These breaks are slow healers b/c your body has a hard time detecting that it is broken.  They shared that some patients have shown no healing after 4 weeks and then they do surgery - the drilling of the pins inflicts additional damage which then stimulates the body to begin the healing process.  We are hoping we don't have to go there.  They told us the cast will stay on between 3 and 11 weeks depending on how fast her body heals the bone.  Once the cast comes off she will have 3 weeks before she can get back to full activity.

Ava was very brave.  She said this visit to OrthoCarolina was the best of her 3 doctor visits b/c they were the nicest and did not hurt her arm as much.  Ava was also glad that Ellie came with her so that she had someone to talk to during the waiting periods.  We celebrated the avoidance of surgery by going to Panera for breakfast!

this is looking down at her left elbow w/ her hand at the bottom of the pic