To not actually believe this story? Nursery incident

[West102]

My cousins 3 year old DD has suffered a broken leg a few days ago. Apparently this happened whilst at nursery. Nursery report that she ran really fast into a table. Aibu to not believe this at all? I can’t imagine running and banging her leg into a table would result in a fracture? They have chosen to the believe the nursery’s version of events but to me it doesn’t seem likely

This is (as a clinician speaking) incorrect. A fracture and a break are the same thing and used interchangeably in the medical field. In fact, when writing medical notes, we don't even use either word most of the time, but instead use # to indicate a fracture, which will then be differentiated by type, etc complete, compound, incomplete, green stick etc etc.

In the case of the OP, it is quite feasible that a child could get a fracture from running into a table, and ED staff should be able to fairly reliably identify any inconsistencies between the injury sustained and the reported mechanism of injury. If the child is at all verbal, the treating/triaging clinicians will also make every effort to interrogate the child themselves on the circumstances to correctly ascertain what happened.

My DS fractured his collarbone falling over at school, no other kids were involved, lots of witnesses including adults. His friend broke an arm rolling off a table at home. Both accidents.

Oh you'd be surprised.......I remember many years ago a family members child ended up with a spiral fracture to her arm after her mum grabbed her to stop her dropping to the floor. Bloody good job it happened in a shop so the whole thing was on camera as SS were allover it. (( indicator of abuse apparently ))

I know someone who fractured their collar bone running into their boyfriend to hug them. And another who broke her ankle merely tripping over. Another who broke his hand by gesticulating enthusiastically and accidentally hitting someone's knee. Totally believable to me.

When my daughter was 3 she fractured her leg by slipping on a book. These things happen.

The parents obviously trust the nursery. This is one of the most important factors when choosing a childcare setting.

Why don't you think it's likely? Do you have reasons for thinking the nursery are lying?

My son had an accident at school. Teacher checked his leg and foot very thoroughly and no problem. Had a limp. So thought twisted ankle. Came home was in pain a and e said buckle fracture. As he was walking on it depends what type of fracture it is. My advice would be to ask for further investigation partly for yourself and partly so it doesn't happen again to another child

The nursery version of events is completely possible.

Never underestimate the ability of small children to injure themselves in unexpected ways. DD2 fractured her wrist - falling UP the stairs.

My friend's toddler tripped on the carpeted living room floor and broke his leg.

I missed one step on some stairs once and stumbled. Ended up with spiral fractures to the tibia and fibula. In casts and boots for nine months, it happens!

My then 3 year old got a really bad break from a very low fall, I saw it happen. He wouldn't stop screaming so we took him straight to hospital, thought he might have a green stick fracture at most. never expected a really bad break and multiple weeks in hosptisl. Hospital was worried something else was going on like brittle bones to get such a bad break from such a small fall, but there wasnt any reason for it. Sometimes you just get unlucky with the way they fall or exactly where the force hits. So yes I think their explanation is believable. One slight silver lining at this age breaks heal very well.

My niece broke her leg just running around the house with her brother.

Toddler's bones are much softer and bendier than adults' bones. It would be perfectly possible for a toddler to get a 'green stick' type fracture, where the bone bends and partially breaks like when you try to snap a fresh stick in half, by falling, tripping or running into something.

I would also add that hospitals are typically very vigilant about broken bones in small children (my brother and his wife got asked A LOT of questions when my niece broke her leg) and there's no way the staff in A&E would have accepted the explanation if it wasn't completely plausible.

My DD had the most horrific broken arm from running into a fence.

A friends reception-aged child broke his wrist and the heel of his foot falling off a very low piece of equipment at school. Literally 18 inches high. These things happen.

It's not the OP's child it's her cousin's. So it's not her business,

My DS broke his leg at nursery. Staff weren't sure what had happened. Dr at A&E reassured me it was easily done at that age and no need for me to be concerned about the nursery's care

My 1 year old daughter caused a buckle fracture on her tibia tripping over while she was learning to walk. Her dad and I witnessed it and neither of us got up straight away as it looked like such an innocent fall, her cry told us that something wasn't right though. I never would have believed it if I didn't see it myself.
So yes it's possible.

The strength of the human body at running speed is quite astonishing. Imagine an adult running as fast as they could and hitting a hard object. A fracture wouldn't seem unlikely at all. It's like a sports injury. Which is the most common reason for fractures in people under 50 apart from RTA/ fall from height.
So I'd totally believe it.

Mine did as well. Bones are softer at that age.

My friends dd broke her foot jumping off the second to last step on my stairs.

You're welcome 😄 to be honest I have this irrational irritation about it because I once worked with someone who thought "fracture" meant hairline fracture, and "broken" meant something much worse, and she absolutely snarled at me "it's not broken, it's only fractured" when I half-jokingly asked if the doctor she had seen at A&E was a real doctor, and if he had understood the physical nature of her job when he said she was fine to keep working with a broken ... let's say leg for reasons of not outing myself 😬

(Turns out it was a lie anyway because she was blaming another colleague for her injury and was trying to make her feel guilty by pretending the injury was worse than it was and I was annoying her by asking too many questions and now if anyone on here worked in the same place they know who I am, or the bullying colleague is because it was an absolute classic of hers 😂)

I'd forgotten about green stick fractures. There were lots around when children were allowed to play out more. I agree that the doctor would write a report on if the explanation was plausible. It will have to be officially noted by the nursery, statements taken etc.

An i pact and awkward fall could do it

My DD15 banged her arm on a half pipe- she wasn't resting or anything, not much more than a knock. Serious spiral fracture that nearly paralysed a nerve, so yes, it can happen!