Bruise vs Break/Fracture?

Mominator

DD fell down the steps. About 4 steps that are hardwood onto a hardwood floor. I am currently icing her leg. She says that it hurts when she walks and she has a bump and bruise on her shin that are still getting bigger. I realize that I am completely paranoid, but other than a trip to the ER, is there anything I can do to figure it out?

FWIW, if I were to take her to the ER we'd have to walk because we got a foot of snow last night and my car is buried in a snow drift. The ER is 4 blocks away and if need be I could pull the on the sled.

Marce921

It's Monday morning, so before I would go to the ER, I'd call the ped's office and just see what they say to do. GL!

soyaddict

I agree, M, called the pedi and see what they say. Hope she's ok and her leg is better soon.

NewNameSameGame

i would think if she is walking at all and putting weight on the leg, its just a bruise...could be a bad one....but I don't think you can put any weight on the leg if its broken.  When Audrey broke hers, and it was a very minor break, she couldn't walk at all.

Bellisimo

You never know with peds...they can have a fracture and still play and bear weight with very little complaints.  Also, some fractures are VERY hard to detect if the person (NP, Dr. or otherwise) isn't great at reading films.  I can't even begin to tell you how many fractures are missed that show back up in MH's ER that he sees on their films plain as day. 

gibs

If someone I cared about was in excrutiating pain and couldn't walk and was screaming, I'd call an ambulance.  I wouldn't take my chances walking 4 blocks in the cold with a sled.  And how would you get home?

Otherwise, I'd call the pedi and let them arrange an xray for you once you can move your car.

People should stay out of the ER unless they have 'emergencies.'  That's why they call it the EMERGENCY room.

lsufan

I would ice it and call the ped.  We went through this a couple of weeks ago with Evan's finger.  I called the ped, they said to ice it and give him Motrin.  He didn't seem to be in much pain after that, so I didn't take him in.  Two days later, he still wasn't bending the finger, and it was still really swollen, so we finally took him in.  It was fractured, but all they did was put a splint on it.  Obviously, a leg is different, but I would call the doctor to see what they advise you to do.

EMT

Definitely call the pedi. DS broke his tibia literally by tripping over his shoes. He could walk on it but he had a slight limp and was just generally not himself. It was a very small stress fracture but apparently they are very common (google toddler fracture). I would definitely want an xray to rule that out and get her in a cast if need be. I think it is very rare for a young kid to sprain anything so it's likely a tiny fracture or a bruise. Owen's looked like a tiny hair on the bone...pedi xrayed and missed it but the specialist saw it. Good luck. Hope she feels better!!!

Littlejen22

All I know is that when I broke my hand in high school I thought it was not broken b/c I could move it...it was broken.  If the swelling keeps getting worse and not better then I would bring her, I know how horrible the snow is b/c we have almost 3 feet and I was pretty nervous that DD would need to go to the ER for dehydration and we would have no way to go b/c we live about 10 miles and we are not even plowed out and have about 30 plus inches.

Mc_Newlywed

As someone who just sprained her ankle two weeks ago... I say call the ped and/or wait. 

There is nothing they'll do anyway.  For my sprain, they took an xray to confirm it wasn't broken then wrapped it w/ a zinc oxide bandage.  You can also soak her foot in Espom salts if you have any. They also gave me a plastic "shoe" to wear to keep me from twisting it or bending it at odd angles accidentally. 

My SIL just fractured her foot 3 days ago and all they did for her was to put her in an air boot and send her home w/ crutches.  They said she can put weight on it when she's ready and already after 3 days she can put a teeny bit of pressure on it. 

After about 3 days (for both of us) there was marked improvement.