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

[Boco]

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!!'.

It makes me cross when I see kids being swing by their hands/wrists. It can do so much damage.

My DH picked our DD up and did it harder than he realised/intended and her elbow bone came out. She ended up with 4 trips to the hospital and 2 x-rays before having a pot on her arm for a week.

I would take her.

Ok, finally got hold of dp and he's coming home in a little while, have a friend picking up dd1 and taking her home for tea so all set.

Good luck Boco and little Bocolette
Hope she is ok xx

Hello we're back and she's fine. Saw 3 doctors all at once. Consultant said he thinks it was a dislocated elbow that went back in on its own because of where the pain is, and that it's sprained. She was very brave and didn't cry at all even though it was obviously hurting a lot as he twisted it about. She was covered in bravery stickers and sent home. Still won't use it at all but not too distressed now, and her sister is being very nice and letting her play with usually off limits toys.

ooh my word well done all of you

what a day eh Boco

Sounds very similar to what happened with my DD. She wouldn't use it either and the pot was a precaution and for protection really.

Oh no poor thing. Pleased it is nothing more serious though.

When dh did this to dd the doctor said once it's been pulled it is more than likely to happen again. So I'd have a word with the crazy helper and ask her please NOT to swing her, and probably nobody else do it either.

sorry to hear this boco.

If she can sleep tonight withour too much discomfort I would say the consultant's suggestion (dislocated elbow, now back in place) is probably correct.

If your dd doesn't get any rest or can't settle tonight, there may still be cause for concern. Keep an eye on it, it might only take a little for it to pop back out in the future. Ligaments that hold the bones in place are stretchy, she has stretched hers. No more swinging.

FWIW dd had a dislocated elbow from a fall in the garden. I am medically trained!

I am medically trained!

NOT I missed the word NOT

swinging her roudn by her wrists?

dislocated shoulder anyone?

A&E boco

did they xray her arm?

am too late I see

good for you .. hope she's feeling better soon

you need to have a stern word with helper lady

my neurotic sister managed to pull her eldest son's shoulder out of joint by doing that thing where they hold a parent's hand each side and you swing them .. it would've had to happened to the neurotic one who was frightened in case they'd fall off the edge of a blanket on the ground

I don't think there is any need for an xray if the consultant saw her, they tend to know what they are doing. If he manipulated her elbow he would have felt if it was dislocated, and if it was broken he woulden't have been able to do.

Shoulders don't tend to dislocate from this mechanism of injury, and you would be able to see an abnormality if it was dislocated.

Sounds like she just needs rest and painkillers. I would suggets that if she still is not using it tomorrow pm, take her back, as she should be back on track by then.

Glad it is nothing else. Brave little girl !!

lula - 'they tend to know what they are doing' Well one would hope, but not always the case - human error can occur.

my dds consultant discharged her while her elbow was STILL dislocated. 30 minutes later after I'd made a fuss and they had another look at the xrays and she was admitted for surgery.

Try giving homeopathic remedy called BRYONIA if she doesn't want it moved or touched

Thats unfortunate and naughty but as I said they 'tend' to know what their doing but it does happen I agree, but not very often.

oh boco, poor you and dd . I second what others have said about being more susceptible to having it pulled out again once it's happened before - ds dislocated one of my fingers as a toddler and it now pops out and then back in when it gets knocked now which is v annoying!

Poor dd. I hope they have given you lots of painkillers for her.

Poor dd is awake and in pain. It seems to have travelled up to her elbow now, she's been really upset all evening - have it resting on a pillow and that seems to help, she's maxed up with pain killers but still grizzling up there

No, no xray, but consultant and two other doctors all had a very long time feeling and twisting and manipulating it and all said they didn't feel it necessary. Consultant said expect it to be painful for a few days, but it's worse now than earlier, she's really distressed and have no idea what else to do for her!