News from Orthopedic Docs

It's been a long week waiting to hear what the orthopedic team figured out, at least for me. I talked with Mike Pond this afternoon and good news, actually the best news we could have hoped for. Mike Pond reviewed the last 4 MRI studies with the radiologist at Shriners and Dr. Lor Randall...all are convinced this is nothing too serious. *sigh of relief*

Travis does have interosseous neurofibroma into the bone and looking back through the scans, this has been present for the past year. The change noted on the Apr MRI represents a change in the plexiform; however, this is NOT a malignant change. They feel the current change is possibly edema (swelling) or maybe small insufficiency fractures due to weak bone. In either case, the best thing is for Travis to continue to do what he's doing and bear weight on his left leg. Mike mentioned we're doing a great job of providing Travis with as normal as possible life given his tumor load.

I asked Mike about the future for Travis and he stated that he hasn't seen one (tumor into bone like Travis has) be really a bad problem. He stated the bad problems tend to happen when they do surgery to correct/"help" the issue. Basically, when they "tick off" the tumor. My next question was does that then change anything relating to the 2 surgeries planned for Travis in the future: to correct the valgus (knee deformity at the top of the tibia) and leg length discrepancy. He stated the "new" finding wouldn't change the plan for those 2 surgeries.

We are to continue to see Mike Pond twice a year and Dr. Lor Randall once a year, unless something comes up. We are to keep up and encourage activities where Travis bears weight on his left leg.

No volumetric MRI results at this time, the first CD arrived cracked and a replacement was sent out today (5/9).

Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, encouragement, and support for us this past 10 days. We are very thankful to have this good news; however, we are reminded how quickly things can change with a scan and with NF in general. Praise God for good news and the best possible answer! Hopefully the sleep will return as well.