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Original poster

Hand hold needed, my 3 year old has broken his leg.

17 replies

halandpeeno · 08/01/2022 20:02

Just got a call from the hospital where DH is with him. They were at a trampoline park, he wasn't even bouncing, just tripped when running.
They'd just done an X-ray and say it's broken, no more news yet, doctors are taking a closer look now.
I'm here by myself with no one to talk too and can't stop shaking.
Will they keep him in overnight? What do you think. Will he need physio? Fuck - what about COVID and hospital and stuff?

OP posts:

Iamkmackered1979 · 08/01/2022 20:11

He will be ok op, he’s little to have broken it. He’ll be x rayed and put in either a back slab or a cast then taken to children’s ward/hospital They may need to operate depending on the break and if they can stabilise it via cast or need manipulation under anaesthetic.

He’ll need to be safe coming home if you have stairs however he’s small and you can carry him bigger children tend to need crutches and physio to make sure they can use them. He will be kept away from any children with covid (they are nursed in isolation by a nurse who wouldn’t the nurse children like your son possibly needing theatre) my ward is a paeds ward in a general hospital but depends if your son is in a childrens hospital things will be different Again.

I won’t tell you not to worry because of course you will, he will be looked after and he’ll be home soon I’m sure. Big shock for you but do ask plenty questions - send any to your husband to ask. You might be able to swap if that’s allowed or we still allow both parents during the day. Have a drink and try to relax, I know he’s your baby boy but he’s in the best place. Pack a bag for him in case you need it and wait for info from your husband take care op

Fallagain · 08/01/2022 20:18

I knew you were going to say on a trampoline. Fingers crossed he is home soon.

Ouchiehelpneeded · 08/01/2022 20:19

Hope he's home soon!

Dd2 broke her leg when she was 4. They're too small for crutches at that age. She was given a little green Zimmer frame (which she hated). She got very good at sliding around on her bum.

The first couple of days were the worst because it was sore but that settled pretty quickly.

Order a limbo cover for the cast. They are brilliant- make baths possible.

We hired a wheelchair from the red cross for getting out and about.

Leah2005 · 08/01/2022 20:28

My ds broke his leg age 3 coming down a slide on my lap. It was a spiral break radiating up from his ankle. He was in plaster for about 6 weeks as I recall and fell out of bed the night after having it removed. He was put back in plaster as his x Ray wasn't clear and reviewed at the fracture clinic a couple of days later and the plaster removed again. He shuffled around on his bum and then walked/ran by swinging his leg in a circle - try stopping a 3 year old. He was absolutely fine. I honestly don't remember him being in a huge amount of pain. Obviously every break is different but not all require surgery. We hired a wheelchair with a leg extender for getting about outside.

FelicityPike · 08/01/2022 20:32

They don’t do crutches anymore, just a moo boot type thing.

FelicityPike · 08/01/2022 20:33

Moon *

Original poster

halandpeeno · 08/01/2022 20:34

Thank you all. I have ordered the Limbo cover as it is one practical thing I can do here at least!
The oramorph has kicked in so apparently he is quite happy.
It was just a shock.
It was going to be a rare night out for DH and I and he was off to a sleepover at his cousins!
It's good to hear other peoples experience of breakages in children as your mind goes all over the place.

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 08/01/2022 20:37

My dd did a small hair line fracture in her leg when she was 2. It was picked up for a couple of days though. On the first x-ray it was missed and i had to go to the hospital again.

Because it was only a small one and she was so young, they didn’t bother even putting a bandage on it.

She was totally fine within a week. She did it on a trampoline too.

Hope your ds is ok and doesn’t struggle too much

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 08/01/2022 20:45

My DS ran to get on a climbing frame and came down far more quickly then he expected. He was five and had just done a term and a half at school. He had to stay at home because of H&S, until he was more mobile. You won’t have that problem I expect, as your DS is younger.

The Limbo is invaluable, as is hiring a wheelchair. The Zimmer frame can be useful, but they learn to shuffle about pretty quickly.

DH was in plaster for six weeks and won all the races at Sports Day a couple of months later.

rwalker · 08/01/2022 20:50

Ds1 same age did a spiral fracture .First few days he was very uncomfortable and in a lot of pain . After that improved massively to the point where he could run with pot on .

No physio or anything VERY quick recovery

Muchmorethan · 08/01/2022 20:55

@Fallagain

I knew you were going to say on a trampoline. Fingers crossed he is home soon.

The OP said the complete opposite

elelel · 08/01/2022 20:58

@Fallagain

I knew you were going to say on a trampoline. Fingers crossed he is home soon.

Did you read any further than the word trampoline?

OP mine had a full leg cast on for 6 weeks once. We got a loan wheelchair and he had crutches too. It took about 4 days and he was as mobile as ever, albeit creatively! No physio required.

Woeismethischristmas · 08/01/2022 21:08

@Fallagain

I knew you were going to say on a trampoline. Fingers crossed he is home soon.

He tripped nothing todo with the trampolines. Not to say they aren’t dangerous my 6yo broke her wrist after an awkward landing. A doctor told me children’s bones are like green sticks on a tree. Bendy and quick to heal. Fingers crossed op.

TrainspottingWelsh · 08/01/2022 21:09

He'll be fine. One of my dc is an adrenaline junkie with a mild disability that results in her injuring herself more often than average and both rode as dc so plenty of experience with fractures here.
No point in worrying about if he'll need physio yet, most fractures don't but even if he does it's nothing to stress about.
Dig out some pillows or rolled blankets to stop him bashing it in bed, or depending on the type of fracture to stop him rolling painfully on it in his sleep. Get the buggy back out or be prepared to borrow/ buy a cheap one if you do much walking. If he gets a cast, be prepared for his usual pjs/ pants not fitting over. We've found cheap leggings or tights cut off over the cast and baggy shorts work well in winter.
The hardest thing will be finding things mentally stimulating enough to keep a 3yr old entertained for days in end when they can't run about.

PugInTheHouse · 08/01/2022 21:49

DS was just under 2 when he broke his leg, we were back home within 2 hrs of leaving for the hospital. He had a full cast on overnight then back to fracture clinic at our main hospital the following morning. He was was dragging himself around within a few hours of having the new cast on and cruising really quickly, he hardly paid any attention to it after the first day.

He had the cast off 3 weeks later and has never had any issues since.

stairway · 08/01/2022 21:53

I don’t know if this will help you but apparently bones repair back even stronger than before.

DrCoconut · 08/01/2022 22:26

It's strange but my DS tripped at a trampoline park (not on a trampoline) and was injured seriously enough to need hospital. Not a fracture in the end but a nasty tongue wound where he bit it.

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