latisimus dorsi transfer...

[diargasm]

I'm having the operation in early July to get external rotation. Dr. Edgerton says it is most likely the last one I'll have and need.

Has anyone had this operation to get external rotation at the shoulder? The neurologist, Dr. Kazmiroff, says that they have commonly performed on young children. I'm not worried about their performance, so far they have really been flawless. I owe them so much gratitude.

What I'm worried about is being in a body cast for 6 weeks. Anyone have any experience with that? I get the butterflies in my stomach whenever I think about since it's been a while from my last operation. And what do you lose without the lat? Whenever I clench my fist I feel my back lat area rise up.

btw I have sensation now from my c7 cross surgery. hopefully the movement will come back too.

[hope16_05]

Hello, My name is Amy, I am 18 and from Minnesota. I have had my injury since birth, so my situation is a little different than yours but I have had a latisimus dorsi transfer to the posterior humerous not sure if that is the same as what they plan to do for you but I was in an airplane brace (arm elevated at 90 degrees and elbow bent at 90 degrees) The brace was not too bad for comfort but it was bad on clothes, it put holes in every shirt I owned. I was 10 and a half when I had that surgery. It really is not that bad! You can do it!!!

Amy Robpi 18 from Minnesota

[admin]

This probably isn't the same thing, but maybe it can help. I had a procedure called a latisimus dorsi flap last Sept. in Denver by Dr. Annest. Basically my right lat was cut from the base of my back and wrapped under my armpit and up around my brachial plexus. I had a drainage tube in my back for about a month, and had to wear a shoulder imobilizer for 2-3 months.
It's almost 8 months post surgery now and with a lot of PT and massage therapy, I can do almost everything I could before. However, I have decreased range of motion and less strength than before. Swimming and reaching for things overhead is very difficult if not painful. Like I said earlier, this may be a different procedure, but I will try to answer any questions you might have.

Roy

[admin]

My 4yr old had the same surgery in July of 2004. And yes she was in a type of body case for seven weeks. It was around her torso from the arm pits to her belly botton, and from her bicept to the fingers. then there was a bar from her elbow to her side placing her hand up as if she was holding a stop sign. Out to the side. She really couldnt wear a shirt, but since the cast covered most everything anyways it was OK. She was in therepy ever since and is doing well. She just had her second surgery this week on her wrist,another transfer and in another cast. This time from the bicept down.

[diargasm]

Thank you for the input. Could you tell me how thick and heavy the cast is? Is it uncomfortable?

[diargasm]

I need to ask a question, but I'm not anyone will understand the gist of what I'm trying to ask.

Whenever I extend my wrist or use my triceps, my lat activates. So will there be any side effects if I have my lat operation towards those functions?

[katep]

It sounds like you have some cross-innervation between your lats and your triceps/wrist; part of the signal that is supposed to go to your arm is ending up in your back. I would definitely ask the docs about this... it might be even less convenient if your activating lats make your arm rotate out.

As for the body cast.. I don't know if it will be the same as our son just wore one for 4 weeks. We kept it (in pieces) after they took it off. It looks horrible and unwieldy, but actually it weighs practically nothing. Write me off and I'll send you pics of what it looks like and weigh it for you


Kate