Limb Lengthening Forum

Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Discussions => Topic started by: LL2022 on April 08, 2022, 08:03:10 AM

Title: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: LL2022 on April 08, 2022, 08:03:10 AM
How do you shower during lengthning with external fixators?

Do you use plastic bags such as, although something like this would probably be troublesome to get on with those bulky fixators on your legs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=iU8TXkVaG4s&feature=emb_title

Or are you supposed to not shower at all to prevent any risk of infection from moisture?
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: Dexter5729 on April 08, 2022, 08:38:01 AM
How do you shower during lengthning with external fixators?

Do you use plastic bags such as, although something like this would probably be troublesome to get on with those bulky fixators on your legs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=iU8TXkVaG4s&feature=emb_title

Or are you supposed to not shower at all to prevent any risk of infection from moisture?

I lay on the goddamn floor or sit on o chair while putting my legs on the other chair. Did this in almost 8 month, i just fk hated this and was mad all the time
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: LL2022 on April 08, 2022, 08:47:06 AM
What the hell, that sounds like torture damn...

I'm searching for a water proof protective cover with a big opening diameter and strong enough seal that can be used for external fixators, hoping to find one so we can take proper showers while lenghtning.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: KiloKAHN on April 08, 2022, 10:22:47 AM
You shower normally, getting the frames and pin sites wet, then dry off and change your dressings with sterile gauze afterward.  You don't need a cover for the frame as it's only stagnant water that's an issue.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on April 08, 2022, 03:53:57 PM
Or are you supposed to not shower at all to prevent any risk of infection from moisture?

This is my position.  Zero showers, zero infections was my track record.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: LLprime3 on April 08, 2022, 05:56:14 PM
The pin sites are open wounds. I wouldn't want chemicals of the soap or shampoo to enter my blood stream freely. No one worried about that?
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on April 08, 2022, 07:50:32 PM
Don't worry about that.  Washing an open wound is different from injecting soap.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: zaozari on April 28, 2022, 01:05:32 PM
This is my position.  Zero showers, zero infections was my track record.
May I ask if for genital area you found a way of washing with running water ( without wetting the pin sites) or had to use any dried, pharmaceutical cleaning product instead?
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on April 28, 2022, 08:04:41 PM
No.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: zaozari on April 29, 2022, 09:48:12 AM
So you could use normal running water ?
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on April 29, 2022, 08:19:50 PM
No.  Don't wash yourself during LL.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: zaozari on April 29, 2022, 11:54:51 PM
Thanks. But not doing so, how often did the nurse change your pin bandages and put desinfectant? Twice a week?
 I'm asking because I may be alone with no nurse and will have to learn to change bandages and clean pin sites myself.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: Medium Drink Of Water on April 30, 2022, 12:21:06 AM
They didn't bandage the pinsites at Guang Ji Hospital.  We were supposed clean the pinsites ourselves daily, but many of us came to the conclusion that leaving them alone and protected by scabs was better.
Title: Re: External Tibia lenghtning and showering
Post by: zaozari on April 30, 2022, 12:28:33 PM
They didn't bandage the pinsites at Guang Ji Hospital.  We were supposed clean the pinsites ourselves daily, but many of us came to the conclusion that leaving them alone and protected by scabs was better.
Thanks. It has some logic, if natural scabs form in every pin incision, maybe it's the most protective (and easiest) solution.