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Original poster

Anybody know anything about sprains and fractures? Do I take dd to A@E?

106 replies

Boco · 22/01/2008 13:46

Ok I know that it'll be me deciding and everything. But, I'm not sure. The nurse has left it to my parental instincts but they tend to not always work.

DD age 3 was at toddler group and the helper lady was swinging her around by her wrists and she suddenly started screaming. An hour later and she was still sobbing and wouldn't let go of it, any slight movement made her scream.

I took her to the drs and saw the nurse who managed to move it around and she can move all her fingers. She said that it's not obviously broken or dislocated, and is probably just a bad strain, but there are lots of little bones and one could be broken - but it was up to me as it may not be, and to decide by 3pm what i want to do. I have no car, dp would have to come home, find someone to look after dd1, it's 45 mins to hospital. Would go in a flash if i thought it was, of course, but i have no idea and she made it sound fairly unlikely.

So, my longwinded question is, swinging round, is it likely or possible to have fractured a little bone? How can I tell? Would a strain be this bad?

She's sitting very still with it on her lap and won't move it or let me touch it, and as i come into the room she says 'no, mummy, stay over there!!'.

OP posts:

Iklboo · 22/01/2008 13:49

There's something like 26 bones in the wrist and hand. It's very easy for one to become dislodged, dislocated or fractured without anything looking outwardly obvious (why was helper lady swinging our DD round by the wrists??!!)
For peace of mind I'd take her to either GP or A&E - especially as she's still in a lot of pain

princessmel · 22/01/2008 13:49

My dd fell of the bed last march. She cried A LOT and I wasn't happy. She wasn't using that arm either. The doctor said 'I'm sure it wont be broken as she's sucking her thumb' but after an x ray we saw that she had a greenstick (sp) fracture to her wrist.

No treatment apart from neurofen and a bandage.

I'd go if I were you.
HTH

Spagblog · 22/01/2008 13:50

This happened to my DD when she was 2.5
I pulled her out of the way of a potential accident at a softplay centre.
She was in pain with her arm and didn't want to be touched or moved. She and DH both blamed me for it and he took her off to A&E for an X-ray.
Dr said it was all fine, and just a slight strain.

pindy · 22/01/2008 13:51

I would take her - just to be on the safe side. If there is a problem you may need to claim or whatever off of nursery. BUT more importantly your DD may need some painkillers and to have it strapped.

Please take her, you will feel alot better - even if she doesn't!

Let us know.

Original poster

Boco · 22/01/2008 13:51

Because helper lady is a bit crazy. I didn't see it happen to dd, but did to one of the little ones. I saw the nurse at the GP surgery. 26? I didn't know that - so it could be more than a strain. Maybe i'll keep trying dp then, thanks.

OP posts:

lulalullabye · 22/01/2008 13:52

Quick question. What does she do if you offer her a sweet or something she likes to play with ? If she refuses to take it from you even though she seems to want to she may have what they call a pulled elbow. From what you say is the mechanism of injury this sounds likely. What happens if it is, is that the elbow is pulled slightly out of joint.

It is very easy to fix by an A&E doctor but I would go any way. This injury usually occurs when they are pulled by the arm.

princessmel · 22/01/2008 13:52

Oh and last month I'm sure I broke a bone in the top of my hand. I was out one night and my tipsy friend hugged me and fell on top of me! My hand got crushed under me and her at a funny angle. It was so painfull and swelled up. I couldn't take off my clothes, dh had too, and it was hard to sleep. I took neurofen and wore a bandage. I couldn't drive for 3 days as I couldn't use hand.

I didn't go to A and E as I didn't think they'd be able to do anything for me. I would have liked to see if it was actually broken out of curiosity though, but I have 2 kids and I don't have time to sit in the waitning room just to find that out .

Hope she's ok.

lulalullabye · 22/01/2008 13:54

P.S just re read thread and I am sure it is her elbow. Take her, it can be painful if it is.

pindy · 22/01/2008 13:55

You don't want her to get used to not using that arm/wrist, as lulalullabye says try tempting her with something - having said that my DS (14) was similar (collarbone) and said it hurt etc etc but was OK and did try to use it for "nice" things - turned out 2 days later it was broken in 2 places!!!!

Take her and see - no problem or harm done if she hasn't.

Also at this time of day they aren't usually too busy!!! (voice of experience here!)

Original poster

Boco · 22/01/2008 13:56

The nurse did check for pulled elbow ,and dislocated shoulder - she won't use her arm at all but the pain does all seem to be in her wrist. She sat with her lunch and drink on her lap and couldn't eat or drink as she won't take her good hand from where it's clamped around her wrist - i've tried tempting her with everything but she is glaring at me with a wobbly chin.

OP posts:

princessmel · 22/01/2008 13:56

I know a little girl who this happened to alot. It seemed to be a weak point for her. Once it happened when her nanny pulled her to sitting position after she's had her nappy changed. The nanny was holding her hands and pulled her up and the arm 'popped' out of the joint

pindy · 22/01/2008 13:57

Could easily be a dislocation or bad sprain, but some attention is warranted. Also a bit of TLC, it will be an adventure for her.

princessmel · 22/01/2008 13:58

Oh x posts if she's had that checked.
I think its prob a fracture like my dd then. She didn't use her hand/arm till the neurofen and calpol kicked in , then the urge to suck her thumb was so strong she moved it.

lulalullabye · 22/01/2008 13:59

Pindy snap, experience wise quiet time in A&E, but revs up again around 4.

IMO, better to see hospital; doc not practice nurse.

missingtheaction · 22/01/2008 14:01

if you are worried take her to a&e. she could be being a bit histronic but it does seem to have been going on for a long time - is she normally quick to get over these kinds of things or does she enjoy nursing them? only you can tell really but if she is still fussing about it a couple of hours later I would be inclined to take her for an exray.

standard first aid for this kind of thing is RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation. I AM JUST ANOTHER MUM so this is not medical advice but you can rest it on her lap on a pillow; crush some ice and wrap it in a teatowel and let her rest her wrist on that between the pillow and her arm (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a teatowel) BUT no more than about 5-10 mins don't want frostbite setting in !!! i wouldn't try to bandage it; the pillow will keep it a bit raised. she will naturally hold it in the most comfortable position for her, so don't fiddle too much. if you want to give her some pain relief I understand ibuprofen has an anti-inflammatory effect whereas paracetamol doesn't

If you make this into a game she will either 'play' or take it seriously. if she takes it seriously or fusses I would definitely take that trip to a&e.

missingtheaction · 22/01/2008 14:03

while i was writing that loads of posts and your replies - i would definitely take her in. pillow on lap in car. let us know

Original poster

Boco · 22/01/2008 14:06

Thanks for that advice. I gave her ibuprofen an hour ago and no better. She's just got up for a wee, and is still in lots of pain when moving it, tried to distract her with some toys and she'll try to play but then start wailing. She's not usually at all histrionic - in fact she's the only one in the family who isn't - so i'm sure it hurts! I suppose its just the thought that if it's almost definitely a sprain it'll be hours of pointless waiting around and ages in the car - and the nurse said if its a sprain they won't do anything anyway.

OP posts:

lulalullabye · 22/01/2008 14:09

They will give you very good idvice if it is a sprain. Children don't have to wait very long. Minor injury practitioners should see her, (very quick)

I admit I am an A&E nurse, so IME take her !

themildmanneredjanitor · 22/01/2008 14:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrannyandZooey · 22/01/2008 14:13

boco having read thread I personally would take her, but I can understand your reluctance to go

Original poster

Boco · 22/01/2008 14:14

Alright, ok, thank you, and thanks lula, if an a&e nurse says so that's like, the thing to do. Just have to find dp!

OP posts:

lulalullabye · 22/01/2008 14:17

I hope They will find whats wrong though and sort it so surely thats best.

Good luck and let us know.

Miaou · 22/01/2008 14:24

Oh boco, poor you and poor dd2! When my dd2 broke her arm (aged 2), she was in a lot of pain and just wanted to clutch her arm. It was only a greenstick fracture but they put it in a cast just to be on the safe side. I agree with the others, particularly if she isn't a fuss-maker, she may well have broken something. Certainly if ibruprofen isn't hitting the spot then best to get someone to look at it.

(Incidentally dd2 broke her thumb a few years later but didn't tell us for weeks - she now has a funny lump on her thumb where it mended itself - twit!)

nortynamechanger · 22/01/2008 14:25

Do you have a minor injuries unit near you? We do and I would use this everytime over my local A&E dept - which has a standard 3 hour wait even for young children with suspected head injuries (and ds has a rare genetic condition with malformed arteries all over his brain, likely to bleed out/stroke any moment - GGRRR).

With the last bump I remebered minors and was in and out within 30 mins - glued/steristripped and given a badge too.

Good luck Bocoette!

Piffle · 22/01/2008 14:27

Sounds a little worse than a sprain or strain tbh Boco

def give her some calpol and ibuprofen and if you are strapped to go, you could wait til later if she seems comfy enough

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