Back to school comes with fall sports, and while it’s fun and healthy to be physically active these sports also come with their own set of potential risks. One such risk is sustaining an ankle fracture. This is common in kids who play rough sports, such as football. If you believe your child has fractured their ankle it’s important to get immediate help.
Signs of a Fracture in Children
It can be scary to see your child with a bad injury, but an ankle fracture is a very common injury among children. The most common reason for an ankle fracture is having the ankle twist past the normal range of motion. This usually occurs when playing, rough housing, or being physically active with sports.
With children it’s even more common because their growth plates are not fully hardened yet, making them more vulnerable to fractures. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether the ankle is fractured or just sprained. If your child is in extreme pain and can’t bear weight on their foot this is usually a good indicator of a fracture. The only way to be absolutely sure is to get an x-ray.
Treating a Child's Foot Fracture
Treatment will depend on what type of fracture your child has, what classification it’s under, and numerous other criteria. If your child has an open fracture (where the skin is broken) they will need even more care to prevent infection. The most important part of healing a fractured bone is making sure the bone doesn’t move at all. This is why your child will either need a cast or a splint to hold the foot in place.
Surgery is uncommon, but it can be necessary in some cases. Usually it will involve a pin being placed in the bone to hold two different parts in place. The pin will be removed once the bone is healed.
It’s important to know what to expect if your child has a broken bone because they will be scared and you can help walk them through it. For more answers to your questions please call Dr. Viedra Elison at (623) 584-5556 to schedule an appointment at Fixing Feet Institute in Surprise, AZ.
