Toddler Fracture Symptoms
A toddler fracture typically refers to a spiral fracture of the tibia in a child between the age of 9 months and 3 years. This type of fracture may sometimes be seen in a young child up to the age of 8. The tibia is commonly known as the shin bone or the shank bone and a toddler fracture often involves the area between the lower half and third of this bone. Toddler fractures are the most common type of injury seen in young children mainly due to unsteadiness and imbalance which make toddlers susceptible to this form of fracture. A missed footing or sudden twists of the leg, especially while running are the main causes of a shin bone fracture. These fractures exhibit a spiral pattern rather than a displacement owing to the strong membranes lining the outer surface of the bone called periosteum.
Toddler Fracture Symptoms
Like any other injury, pain is the main symptom of toddler fractures. It is but natural that a toddler with a fractured shin bone would find it difficult to walk or put any pressure on the affected leg. This results in the child refusing to walk or walking with a distinct limp. A slight swelling accompanied by warmth over the fractured area is characteristic of lower tibia fractures. Pain experienced on pressing the region of the fracture or bending the foot upwards is also indicative of a toddler fracture. Toddler fractures do not have any visible symptoms like bruising and deformities. In smaller babies, an inability to express one’s feelings effectively would result in inconsolable crying spells triggered by the pain.
Toddler Fracture Treatment
In most cases, the toddler does not even realize immediately that he or she has been hurt and this is the main reason why most parents are clueless with regard to the cause of injury. Moreover, the toddler is usually on his or her own when the mishap takes place. This results in an inability to ascertain the cause of the symptoms and is often mistaken by doctors for child abuse. These fractures are generally not visible through a normal x-ray and in some cases; a bone scan or ultrasound imaging may be needed to detect the problem. They are usually detected when the body’s healing process begins with the formation of a callus. The good news is that toddler fractures heal within a few weeks and do not cause long term deformities, provided they are attended to in time. A leg cast covering a major part of the leg is sufficient to aid healing.