Myelogram: Caring for your child at home after the procedure

Your child has had a myelogram. The information on this page explains how to care for your child at home after the procedure, and when to call for help.

Discharge from the hospital 

Most children who have a myelogram go home the same day. This is usually four to six hours after the procedure.

Dressing care

Your child will have a dressing or bandage over the site of the myelogram. You can take the dressing off after 24 hours. If the dressing gets wet or dirty, take it off and replace it with a clean adhesive bandage.

Bathing

Your child may have a bath or shower 24 hours after the procedure.

Meals

If your child is feeling well enough after the anaesthetic, they can return to eating what they normally eat. It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids for 48 hours after the procedure.

Pain relief

If needed, give your child acetaminophen for pain. Do not give your child any medicines that will thin the blood, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or ibuprofen, without checking with a nurse or your child's doctor first.

Activity

Your child may cry more, be fussy or be very clingy and become difficult to comfort after surgery. Your child can be picked up, sit for safe feeding, or stand up for short periods of time. Your child should have minimal activities for the first two days after the procedure. Your child may return to regular activity after 48 hours.

Results

Your referring doctor will receive the results of your child’s myelogram. You will need to make a follow-up appointment with them to discuss the results.

When to see a doctor

Call your child’s doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Department right away if your child has any of the following:

• fever greater than 38°C (100.4°F)
• headache that persists 48 hours after the procedure or occurs when standing up
• leakage at the site of the needle insertion
• change in sensation or numbness in the lower limbs
• difficulty peeing or having unexpected accidents after the procedure
• persistent throwing up (vomiting) immediately after getting home
• vomiting and nausea that continues 48 hours after the procedure
• seizures that are new in onset

Be sure to let the Emergency Department staff know that your child has had a myelogram.

At SickKids

If you have any concerns in the first 48 hours, call the IGT clinic at (416) 813-7654 ext. 201804. Speak to the IGT clinic nurse during working hours or leave a non-urgent message.

If you have concerns and it is after working hours, see your family doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Department. You can also call the Hospital for Sick Children switchboard at (416) 813-7500 and ask them to page the IGT fellow on call.