Final answer:
The statements made by the parents about a child with osteomyelitis of the tibia were correctly identified as True for receiving antibiotics for several weeks and False for having a cast until healing, the child returning to sports immediately upon discharge, and the need for contact isolation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteomyelitis and Treatment Understanding
A child with a new diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the tibia will require careful management and understanding from the parents. Based on the provided information, here are the true or false answers to the parents' statements:
- "My child will have a cast until healing is complete: False." While immobilization is sometimes necessary in bone infections, osteomyelitis primarily requires antibiotic therapy rather than a cast for the duration of the healing process.
- "My child will receive antibiotics for several weeks: True." Osteomyelitis is generally treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics, which can last several weeks or even longer, depending on the severity of the infection.
- "My child can return to playing sports once they have been discharged: False." It is essential that the child fully recovers and regains strength before returning to physical activities like sports that could stress the affected limb.
- "My child needs to be in contact isolation: False." Osteomyelitis is an infection within the bone and does not usually require contact isolation unless there is a draining wound that might pose a risk of transmitting bacteria.
Treatment of osteomyelitis often includes a combination of surgery to remove infected tissue and long-term antibiotic therapy. It is essential for parents to follow the medical team's advice regarding activity level and precautions to ensure proper healing and avoid complications.