Two-year-old Carson Lees from Marfleet is recovering after undergoing a five-hour limb reconstruction operation, having spent a year with a broken leg due to a rare bone condition. Carson has Congenital Pseudarthrosis (CPT), a disorder that causes weakened bones highly prone to fractures.
Diagnosis after a year of uncertainty
Shortly after birth, Carson developed an unstable 'false joint', making a break inevitable. Initially, doctors thought he had a positional birth defect correctable with movement and physiotherapy. But in June 2025, his parents, Carter and Courtney, were woken by agonising screams. His leg had fractured. After numerous tests, he was diagnosed with CPT.
Courtney said: 'He would've been about 14 months old and we woke up and he was absolutely screaming in pain, so we ran into his bedroom. You could clearly see his leg was visibly broken. We rushed him to A&E and they didn't really know how to deal with it. The Dr in A&E said we'll put a cast on it. We got home and thought everything was fine, it would heal within 6 weeks. The consultant who had been seeing Carson phoned and said they'd heard Carson has been in A&E, and they think it's what they call an impending fracture. It basically confirms that it was CPT.'
A year in a clamshell cast
Surgery had to wait until Carson turned two. For 12 months, he wore a clamshell cast that needed replacing as he grew. The complex limb reconstruction lasted over five hours, but there is no guarantee his leg will heal properly.
Courtney described Carson as a cheerful boy who finds ways to move, though he sometimes gets frustrated watching his nursery friends. 'He had to wait for the surgery when he turned two. He had a broken leg for a year on the day of his surgery. But he is literally not bothered, he finds his little ways to get around, he bum shuffles and walks on his knees. He's really resilient. I think he gets bored and fed up when he sees what other kids do in nursery.'
Uncertain future and fundraising
Despite the surgery, the bone may break again. Further operations carry more risks, and amputation is a possibility. 'It may break again, and we could try surgery again, but with that comes more risks. It could pose more risk to the leg. If we don't choose to get the surgery again we are possibly looking at amputation. Fingers crossed it heals,' Courtney said.
Carson is now recuperating at home, using a wheelchair and enjoying activities like bowling. During his hospital stay at Sheffield Children's Hospital, his favourite treat was a babycino, or 'nino' as he calls it. His parents are grateful to the hospital and the British Limb Reconstruction Society charity, and plan to fundraise throughout the summer.
