Botox - not just for vanity anymore

Today in pedi lab we learned that physicians are now using Botox to treat patients with joint contractures. How cool is that? The paralytic effects can be used to remove wrinkles AND relieve fixed muscles. We also learned lots of clever ways to treat kids with a variety of casts. Again, there is a lot of thinking outside the box. You can use electrical tape to apply "petaling" along the top or bottom of a cast to help keep it dry reduce irritation on the skin. You can also use moleskin if it is in an area that has lower chance of getting wet. Bean bags are also great for helping little ones sit up to eat or play cuz you can mold it around them. Use benedryl if they are getting itchy and DO NOT stick a ruler or wire coat hanger down the cast to relieve an itch. You can also use a hairdryer on the COOL setting to dry the skin if it gets wet and/or to relieve itching. And of course, if a child is in a spica cast, even though it is REALLY tempting to do so, do NOT use the stabilizer bar to lift the child:)