Possible wrist fracture

[*PinkLilly*]

I got home from work today and noticed that DD was not using her right hand/arm to push herself up, or pull herself up onto the lounge. I kept an eye on her, and then decided a quick trip to the doctors wouldn't hurt. Anyway long story short, the doctor eventually saw her behaviour and said to bring her in for an x-ray tomorrow morning for check for a greenstick fracture.

Has anyone's little one ever had an x-ray at 15 months, what is involved etc and anyone's little one had a wrist fracture? Just want to know what they do to fix the problem, timeframes etc.

Thanks!

[westy]

Oh dear, the poor little bubba...hope she is going to be ok and her arm heals quickly.

[Netix]

Hey, hope all will be okay, I haven't known any very little one to have any fractures. When I was in grade four I fractured my wrist (a greenstick) and had a plaster cast up to my elbow for three weeks.

That's about all I can offer I'm afraid.

[Willow]

My DS fractured his tibia at 18 months. He had two x-rays in that time which were pretty straight forward and he didn't make much fuss. They basically took him in, laid him on a bed and took the xray. I couldn't go in with him because I was prg at the time so DH took him in both times.

Obviously it's a different bone, but he was in a cast for 6 weeks. We ended up taking him to the Childrens Hospital at Westmead after getting the run around from local hospitals and orthopaedic specialists - best thing we ever did, they were fantastic. He was treated through the fracture clinic in outpatients.

He went through about 5 casts in that time because he kept braking them If your DD is anything like my DS, it won't slow her down at all! He was up and walking again within 2 days. Although being her wrist it will restrict her more than his leg did I would imagine.

Honestly, while it wasn't the most pleasant thing to go through, it all turned out OK in the end.

I hope it's not fractured, but if it is, she'll be just fine I'm sure

[Michelle71]

At 15 months an arm fracture is unusual if there has been no specific trauma (fall from bed / lounge etc) It is more likely to be a pulled elbow. It is usually caused by being picked up by the forearms rather than the upper arms or swinging them by the arms. Some kids are more prone to it than others.

Is there any swelling / bruising?? Feel up the length of the arm to see if there is a sore spot. See if you can move her non moving forearm by turning the palm from facing upwards to downwards (or vice versa). If any of them cause her pain you might be better just going to ED around 8am - particularly if your GP closes early on Saturday or doesn't do plasters. ED can xray, review, plaster (usually a half plaster) if needed and refer you to an orthopaedic specialist if needed. They can also put the elbow back if they think that is the problem. Good luck!!

[mrsmac]

Riley had a broken wrist (spiral fracture of both bones) when he was 18 months old from a simple fall on the driveway. he was fine during the X-ray and had a cast for 5 weeks which caused him no problems at all (he used it as a weapon to hit us LOL)
Hope your little one is OK.

[*PinkLilly*]

it's fractured! More specifically a "cortical buckle fracture of the distal radial metaphysis".

Will take her back to the dr's once she wakes up from her sleep and see what they will be planning on oing from there. I hope I doesn't have to go in a cast - just when it's starting to get warm too .

[olive]

awwww poor chook! it may just get a half cast, you know the ones that are bandaged on, remember kids heal quicker than adults!

[Michelle71]

There are a couple of options but she should be healed and functional in a few weeks. The fracture just means she (usually) fell and landed on the outstretched arm. The cortex (like the shell) of the bone on the thumb side (radius) got squashed at the edge of the growth plate and sticks out a little bit. The bone is still in one piece - just a little bit squashed They usually want a repeat xray in a week or so to check healing.

[mrsmac]

DS had a waterproof fibreglass cast (it was late december) and was fine cause he could still go in the bath etc.
Hope she is OK.