My toddler fractured her tibia 5 weeks ago, and the cast just came off. What can I do to help with recovery?

(March 24, 2010)

A fracture is a painful condition especially in case of toddlers where they find it difficult to understand what is happening to them. A fracture of the tibia that is the shin bone is a common occurrence among children between the age group of 9 months to 3 years or children below 8 years of age. It is difficult to keep a tab on your kids to see what they do and falling is a part of their growing and learning. This type of a fracture is most common among toddlers because of toddlers’ inability to balance and no steadiness because of which they might miss a step or twist their leg in the course of running. Many a times, you will not recognize early enough that it is a fracture because your toddler is not able to figure out on his own what has happened and this is especially the case if your toddler was all by himself. The primary most symptom in case of a fracture is pain that your toddler experiences along with inability to walk or apply pressure on the affected leg. There also might be swelling on the injured area and tremendous amount of pain if the area is touched or pressed by someone. The pain is internal and not external and thus, it is important that parents watch out for these symptoms.

A cast is primarily put to ensure that the bones that are broken are kept intact and do not move. Even after a cast is removed, it is important that the necessary precautionary measures are taken because time needs to be given for the leg to heal completely. Applying too much pressure on the leg might cause further complications and therefore you need to take utmost care to ensure that your toddler does not run around a lot. This might be very difficult considering the amount kids run around and cannot sit quiet in one place. Keep a watch on them for a few weeks to make sure they do not indulge in any strenuous activities. There can be complications if proper rest is not taken. You need to remember that it is very essential to handle them carefully and not be forceful with them as they could get very aggressive. It is, however, best that you consult a specialist if you have any further queries and to ensure the right treatment for your child.

Submitted by P T on March 24, 2010 at 12:13