Assumptions menu
Inhibition
If it is impossible for Pedipod/LLD to determine the growth,
for example if only one assessment has been performed, this menu item
will be available. Selecting it will present a window in which you can,
if appropriate, make an assumption about the inhibition that will allow
Pedipod/LLD to predict future growth.
In some cases it may be possible to make a reasonable estimate
of the growth inhibition based on the diagnosis and when the inhibition
started. For example, in cases in which the inhibition was present at
birth it may be reasonable to assume that the growth inhibition in the
short leg is equal to the percentage difference in the absolute lengths
of the legs. In fact, this is the default value Pedipod/LLD presents in
the dialog box when you select this menu item.
Pedipod/LLD will use whatever estimate you enter for growth
inhibition but cannot assess whether or not the estimate is valid or reasonable.
For this reason a warning comment will be printed in all reports when
the growth inhibition is assumed.
Growth percentile
Cases may arise in which no skeletal age estimate is available.
In such cases Pedipod/LLD cannot determine the growth percentile of the
child, but allows you to assume, if you wish, that the child is of the
mean percentile. In the absence of skeletal age data you have no way of
estimating the growth percentile regardless of the apparent maturity or
the height of the child. You may, however, prefer to get a rough idea
of the future rather than no estimate at all and can do this by assuming
that the child is of the mean growth percentile.
Again, Pedipod/LLD will accept your decision, but has no way
of assessing whether or not it is reasonable. For this reason a warning
comment will be printed in all reports.
Goal of treatment
This menu item allows you to specify the goal of treatment,
at least as far as leg lengths are concerned, in case exact equality is
not the chosen goal.
Exact leg length equality is not the optimum goal for some
patients. Those wearing braces or with weakness may benefit from that
leg being somewhat shorter than the other and Pedipod/LLD
allows you to use your clinical judgment in specifying either under-correction
or over-correction as the treatment goal.
Treatment strategy
Your selection will
allow Pedipod/LLD to predict the result at maturity of the treatment you
specify here. The prediction will be stated in reports and shown on the
straight line graph.