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Original poster

Will a knee injury require an x Ray?

20 replies

Horatioroses · 03/09/2019 08:02

Sorry to post in chat, really hoping for a quick answer. Ds injured knee playing football yesterday, 12, really struggling to put weight on it today. I have a choice of two places I could take him to have it looked at (to get a crutch if nothing else!) and one won't X-ray children, but is much closer, and the other well but is at least a half hour drive and very busy.
If I go to the first one and they suggest an X-ray we will then have to travel to the other one anyway. So the question is, if you or your dc have injured their knee, is an X-ray standard or will they not think they is indicated for a (very) sore knee?
Thank you!

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 03/09/2019 08:06

My son injured his knee playing football. He had fractured it and it required extensive physio after an initial period on crutches. He had an initial xray (and three more to check healing)

NoDontLookAtMeImShy · 03/09/2019 08:06

We have this issue.
And the one who X-ray are the ones you have to wait hours and hours for.

If it was a wrist and I thought it was broken I would go to the X-ray one.

Since it's a knee and he can put some weight on it, I would think it was a nasty sprain and would probably not need an X-ray and see the place that doesn't do xrays.

NoDontLookAtMeImShy · 03/09/2019 08:07

Ha! To absolute opposite views!

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Todaythiscouldbe · 03/09/2019 08:11

Just to clarify, my son walked around all afternoon after injuring himself, it was sore but he could absolutely put weight on it. We took him to hospital the next day following advice from the football manager. A break is often initially far less painful than ligament damage.
Sorry, I should also add that my son heard and felt his knee pop although the consultant said that is really unusual in knee breaks

Original poster
Horatioroses · 03/09/2019 08:11

Well I appreciate them both! He has not had anything as sore as this before, he tells me, though would be inclined to make a fuss!

OP posts:
DeadCucumber · 03/09/2019 08:12

The clinician who physically examines him will have full info to decide that. If he can bend it and partially weightbear I'd be less concerned and go to the first place (personally), still chance they send for xray though. Up to you OP, don't think it's something for MN to decide.

Todaythiscouldbe · 03/09/2019 08:13

Oh bless him. My son is sympathising with him 😁
Whatever you decide to do I hope the wait isn't too long and it heals quickly

Original poster
Horatioroses · 03/09/2019 08:21

Thank you all.
Deadcucumber, the reason for posting was to see if others with knee injuries were always/usually x rayed, as I know place 1 cannot X-ray minors. If an x Ray is way over the top for a sore knee, then I could have felt going there isn't a wasted journey. Just seeking info, obviously as his parent I need to decide.

OP posts:
DeadCucumber · 03/09/2019 08:29

I'm a radiographer, we don't xray every knee injury but it depends on the clinical examination and the clinicians decision. If he is making a real fuss they may be inclined to xray him to check, but they may not. If you're concerned, going the extra distance wouldn't be a wasted journey even if they didn't xray in the end. You're just taking care of your child :)

DeadCucumber · 03/09/2019 08:35

@Todaythiscouldbe Bless him! That's unusual from what I've seen with knees, but totally does happen sometimes! The body is weird 😂 Sprains definitely can be more painful than some breaks. OP hope you find out what's wrong and recovery is quick.

duffyluth · 03/09/2019 08:36

No an X-ray is not standard. It's done based on why the doctor who examines the patient finds/thinks.

duffyluth · 03/09/2019 08:36

Based on what Blush

MadameCurie226 · 03/09/2019 08:51

DeadCucumber is correct (I'm a Medical Physicist so help people like DeadCucumber and other related professionals comply with the regulations that they have to follow when deciding whether or not X-rays are justified).

You can't say whether or not to take an X-ray without a physical examination of the injured individual by a doctor. It's a matter of professional judgement and you won't get anything useful on here as you'll get a snapshot of answers from whoever saw the thread at the time and decided to post.

You have no idea who those people are and whether their experience and injuries are the same or different to your DSs.

Rosere · 03/09/2019 08:58

I see knee injuries a lot. Some don't need xray. Some obviously do, but bear in mind xray only shoes bone or the effect other structures have on it. Sometimes further imaging required which you can get your GP to organise if the minor injuries feel he needs it.
There are Ottawa knee rules that are used, and like previous posters said, not all knee injuries require xray, but if he's non weight-bearing or struggling I would get him examined. Most importantly make sure you give him plenty of calpol or whatever pain relief he normally takes as it makes movement for him easier, and easier for the clinician to assess. Bring him to the nearer one in the first instance.
Hope he's OK

Jammiebammie · 03/09/2019 09:07

If you get seen at the first one and they decide he needs an X-ray, will they give you a slip to go straight to X-ray at the next hospital or will you have to go through triage again?
Last time I was at our minor injuries with dd2 and they decided we needed to go to the bigger hospital, we were told to go straight to X-ray but I’m aware not all hospitals operate like that. If they do then I’d go to the smaller one, if not then I’d go to the bigger one.
Can you check waiting times online? Hopefully less busy on a Tuesday morning than a Saturday night say.
Hope your ds feels better soon, make sure he’s taken paracetamol and ibuprofen too.

Todaythiscouldbe · 03/09/2019 09:30

I was just typing but I'll bow out now. I appreciate all injuries are different but weight bearing is no indication at all of whether an xray may be needed. Hope your son recovers quickly.

Original poster
Horatioroses · 03/09/2019 10:47

Hello, thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I fully realise mumsnet is no substitute for medical advice but sometimes it's helpful just to have an experienced person to mull it over with - no family to call and dh knows no more than me.
Anyway waiting for the result of an X-ray just now, so I'm glad I went with the further-away hospital. Really lucky to have the choice too.

OP posts:
DeadCucumber · 03/09/2019 17:19

Hope all went well OP.

Jammiebammie · 04/09/2019 07:23

How is your ds now @Horatioroses? Hope everything went well at the hospital.

Original poster
Horatioroses · 04/09/2019 08:43

Hello, nothing broken on the x Ray thank goodness, he has crutches and is to go back for a follow up next week. MRI if no better. Ligament and meniscus were mentioned?
Hospital could not have been nicer to us.
Thanks for all the support on here, it did really help Thanks

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