5 days post elbow injury DD can't straighten arm

[Heckythump1]

DD (8) fell on the playground at school and landed directly on her elbow.
She was in a lot of pain, couldn't rotate or extend the arm, so obviously took her to A&E, she had x-rays done, all good no fracture and told to keep moving it, if no better to return tomorrow, which obviously we will be.
The day after her elbow started to swell and is still fairly swollen, her whole arm from elbow to wrist is also bruised.
She can now rotate the arm and lift it above her head, but can't straighten it and is holding it awkwardly.
Anyone experienced anything like this? Could it be a missed fracture or something else?
We go on holiday in less than two weeks 😩 really hoping we can get her sorted!

I would go back to A&E and ask for it to be re-xrayed. I know of several children whose broken bones did not show up on the first x-rays although I'm not sure why that is.

Yes another vote to take her back… fractures can be missed.

Ds2 fell off a wall last month, I posted on here about it actually because of the same reason - one X-ray but still in a lot of pain. I took him back, they re xrayed and no fractures found. He’s still struggling every now and then with aches but I took him to the gp who said soft tissue can take a long time to heal and gave ibuprofen gel. But until you’re 100% happy nothing has been missed, I’d take her back. (Ds1 walked on a fractured leg for 2 weeks after a&e had sent him away so it is possible!)

Maybe you went yesterday but if you didn't and you're in any doubt I would go back. Elbows need quick and good rehabilitation otherwise regaining full range of movement can be difficult so I'd want to be 100% no fracture was missed and then if a second x-ray still shows no issue I'd see a physio for exercises.

Just out of A&E, it is fractured :( they re x-rayed and the fat pads were swollen which indicates a fracture. She's in a cast and sling and will be returning to fracture clinic later in the week.

Glad you went back. I don't know why fractures don't always show up first time, but as I said I know several children who this has happened to before. Is your DD anymore comfortable now it is in a cast and sling?

She wasn't really in any pain, just couldn't straighten her arm properly, I knew something wasn't right!
The nurse we saw said that there was swelling of the fat pads on the new x-ray but not so much on the old one. But as soon as she saw the original x-ray she said 'that elbow isn't right' 🙄 so god knows why the doctor we saw initially didn't pick up on anything!