To think this doesn't need the minor injuries appointment

[OnNaturesCourse]

Backstory - DC4 got their ankle/foot trapped in the bars of their crib bed while climbing over and fell over the bars with their foot stuck resulting in lots of screaming for a good half a hour. It was very bruised looking and red with a massive indent line when it was first done. Calmed down but would not weight bare and swelling started so took a trip to A&E. DC isn't the type of kid to complain or react to much so this big reaction/continued complaint of pain was a concern to. It was very busy, was told they'd like to xray but they suspect it's just a sprain/tendons as DC was moving the ankle and the swelling wasn't too great plus there was good blood flow in the foot. (also the initial bruise colour was gone) Was then told I could take an appointment for the minor injuries clinic today, or the wait time for A&E treatment would be 6-7hrs. I choose the clinic as it was already late and DC was tired/hungry and no longer appeared in great pain.

DC woke up today and the ankle is not bruised as predicted it would be by triage nurse last night, but the swelling is still there. DC is weight baring on it (was advised last night to not encourage any weight bearing but DC was up and standing getting out of bed before I could stop them) DC is happily sitting with feet crossed at the ankle with legs up but jumps or shouts when I or anything else touches it. (I even done the touch it without them seeing to see if it was just a protective reaction but still jumped with pain)

The fact that DC is willing to stand and attempt walking (not hopping but a slight limp) and isn't stopping crossed their ankles, nor are they seemingly in pain when sitting makes me wonder if this is just a bad sprain needing rest. Not wanting to waste the clinics time based on my DC needs/feelings/reactions of last night. No pain meds have been needed.

Is it worth the clinics time and resources to xray this? Does it sound like it could be a break or anything requiring medical treatment? I'm pretty sure DC would be up and limping around OK if I let them / didn't follow hospital advice from last night.

Thing is, how do you know it's a minor twisted ankle when it's a small child? You should always err on the side of caution for a young child who may not be able to reliably tell you what hurts and how much it hurts. Not only that but they don't really understand they should rest it so they end up doing real harm if it is broken.

If the bone is broken and sets by itself it may cause problems later, better be sure.

It's more wasteful not to get the check you need at the right time, ending up needing more treatment.

Your child had a nasty accident. Get it checked.

I guess I just don't feel my child is displaying signs of it bothering them as much as I'd expect.

No, I'll not be changing the bed, it's not a opition. It's not a traditional cot bed as its a full sized bed with bars and a bunk bed on top (also with bars) both beds have ladder access but DC often choose not to use that.

If the appointment is made I would go. Use it and get the peace of mind

My son has had both a wrist and ankle fracture in the last 6 months. Neither were “obvious”. Always get it checked out. They wouldn’t have done an MIU referral if they didn’t think it required further review.

I guess I just don't feel my child is displaying signs of it bothering them as much as I'd expect
Why bother with any x-rays for children, just ask the unqualified parent 'is it bothering you as much as you'd expect?'. Would save the NHS a fortune.

It think it would be borderline negligent not to get your child checked when the NHS offers it.

No, it needs an xray.
Circulation appears to be OK from how you've said its presenting today, but the bone needs to be xrayed.

A bit of inconvenience now could save your child a lifetime of problems.

But it’s absolutely not a waste. Do you know how many people refuse to go to minor injuries and then, years later, find out they actually had a fracture or small break that healed wrong because they didn’t get it looked at? I myself had a twisted ankle that I assumed I could heal alone as was just a sprain and it ended up taking over 2 years. Was advised I should never have left it without having it looked at.

It is not a waste of NHS recourses to have things checked over and be given the all clear. Ever. Especially not for a child. It’s quite literally why they exist in the first place.

Neglect isn’t just one level. Yes, not taking your child to A&E in the first place would be neglect. Equally, not following up and having the x-ray you were medically advised was necessary would be a level of neglect.

Also second that you should be changing the bed, it’s quite clearly not appropriate now.

Agree about changing the bed, it's dangerous.

My eldest broke her wrist and carries on doing handstands. It was a couple of days before she complained.

Kids are a law into themselves and I wouldn't do any assuming after that.

I don’t think you are being neglectful for questioning if you should take you DC to the appointment, it’s hard to tell with young children. I do think it would be neglectful however if you don’t change the cot after him having this accident, it’s clearly unsafe for him at this age and stage and could have been a lot worse.

Just go to minor injuries and let them assess it, stop trying to second guess everything. The whole reason they have the minor injuries clinics is because these injuries aren’t always straightforward and need professional assessment. A child being able to weightbear doesn’t mean there’s not a fracture just as a child not being able to weightbear doesn’t mean there is.

I do think it would be neglectful however if you don’t change the cot after him having this accident, it’s clearly unsafe for him at this age and stage and could have been a lot worse.

Same. Bars are supposed to prevent injuries not cause them.

The bed is not the topic of this thread 😂

I'm continuing with the appointment.

Also to note.. I didn't question it because going would be an inconvenience 🙄

Another one here who broke my leg when I was 4. Not a greenstick fracture, but a clean break. I could walk on it, wiggle my toes and the doctor was pretty sure that it wasn't broken, but got it x-rayed just to be on the safe side. Best to get it checked out today @OnNaturesCourse

It not so much that they show less pain it's that green stick fractures hurt less and can be walked on.
Breaks in small children are called green stick fractures because their bones break in the same way a green stick does, i.e., more of a tairing/separateing of the fibre propaganda than a clean break in adults or an old dry stick

No it isn’t the topic of the thread but it is the most important factor that needs addressed. Your child injured themselves on their bed - the very place they should be safest in the whole world. This needs immediately rectified and the fact you’re being dismissive about it is quite alarming.

I would - my dd2 just had a high pain threshold for broken bones - twice she was x-rayed just to be sure and had broken things - including a leg broken in two places that she stood on the scales at hospital to be weighed on!

Definitely go. I had something very similar with my dd. My sister (a doctor) said I should go even though it didn't seem to be much of a problem after the first day (she even enjoyed swimming the evening it happened). It wasn't bruised but was a little puffy and she didn't want it to be touched but otherwise happy moving it around herself. Turns out she had a buckle fracture. I was shocked that she had been so content getting about her day with a fracture.

It is possible my husband broke his ankle drove a manual van home (an hours drive) said he was just going to get it checked as a precaution as was bit swollen but balanced on it saying its definitely not broken! it definitely was he needed it pinned back together! I'm sure its nothing as dramatic as that but it was a bit of a shock it was that bad when he could use it perfectly fine.

I concur with the folks who are saying it really should be xrayed to be sure. Kiddos can easily get fractures and still walk (they have bendy bones!). Many minor injuries places have access to xray machines (they often treat closed fractures etc) so call 111, get them to square you away with an appointment, and go get the little one's ankle checked. What you don't want to have happen is for there to actually be a break/fracture and it to heal incorrectly. That happened to me when I was little - a small fracture in my foot - but it impacted the growth plate later on when I got older and has been a constant source of annoyance ever since. At the time I hurt my foot when I was a kid I was not taken to get any kind of treatment - even though there was clearly bruising and I was having trouble walking, and sadly that decision has impacted my later life (for example, I cannot run without being in a lot of pain - no matter what shoes etc are used - because the growth plate was impacted - and any surgery at this point could well just make things worse - foot surgery is no fun)

Nah, it's not a waste of NHS resources. They would gladly see your DC any day of the week to rule out broken bones.

Better to look a fool than a sorry fool.

Thanks again everyone.

I was given an appointment last night for this afternoon so will be heading there shortly.

DC walking around like normal (I can not get this 4yr old to sit still lol) and even showed off telling "but I can jump too, watch!" however the leg is buckling under them occasionally and they say their foot is tripping them up (but not sore) so thinking it's definitely needing a more in depth check than it got last night.

How did the appointment go ?