What might be the reason a 4-6 month old baby has two casts on her legs in the squatting position?

Question

I saw a baby at the Shoppette tonight in this condition. I wanted to ask the mom when she made eye contact but she seemed very loving and I am sure everyone asks her everywhere she goes so I let it be. But I'm dying to know what might have happened.

Answer 1

It could be a malformation of the leg bones, knees, or hips. Sometimes this happens in birth (bad position when being born) and sometimes very early babies have what is called 'rickets of prematurity', where the legs are bowed due to a vitamin D or calcium deficiency prior to a pre-term birth.

Answer 2

The baby may have been born with her hips out of place... not entirely uncommon. There also may be issues with the alignment of the bones in the baby's legs that required a cast to set them properly.

Answer 3

Sounds like a possible situation of trying to straighten the long bones of the legs.

I wore braces on my legs from the age of 1 to about 4, due to curvature of the long bones. While they didn't have to use casts, those are commonly used, as well.

Answer 4

They operate on babies feet and legs at an early age now so there is less problems later on.. the baby could have club feet, or a curvature of the bones.

Answer 5

It is almost certainly not from an injury. The position you describe, with both legs being casted, tells me that it was some sort of corrective surgery.

Answer 6

I seriously doubt anything happened. The baby is more likely being treated for a developmental problem.

You could have asked. I have a disabled child and strongly prefer questions over odd stares. Talking may actually help her cope. With a baby that young she is still hormonal, making health issues even harder to deal with.

Answer 7

My niece was born with dislocated hips and had to wear casts and when they came off she had to double up and wear two diapers.. My cousin also had a baby who had to do the same thing..

Answer 8

Clicky hip syndrome it is quite common, especially in girls and babies who were born breech. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint and clicky hips is where the ball 'pops' out of the joint quite easily so the cast help train the joints to work as they should.

Answer 9

dislocated hips. i worked with handicapped children for many years. it was a very common occurence. if a child can't bear weight the hips can dislocate. 4-6 months is early but she could have been born like that. only other thing that comes to mind is a bone disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta. a brittle bone disease where the bones are like egg shells. i knew a child with it. he was born with 56 broken bones and could inncure a break very easily. just by changing his diaper he could break a hip.

Answer 10

lol humorous, yet heavily... labor fairly did provide me hemorrhoids. He blew out the entire region. All 8 lbs and 12 oz..of him, I had to get an episiotomy and that i ripped besides.