Wait and see or take him to the ER?

[GardenStream]

DS (26mo) was outside running around. I was standing right next to him and he tripped over his own foot. I did hear a popping sound when he went down. He cried, but it wasn't uncontrollable sobbing or anything. I calmed him down after a minute and set him back down. He tried to run off again, but started to whimper the minute he put his weight on his ankle. I watched him walk a few steps and I could see the ankle slipping on him.

So, I brought him inside and got him in the tub and he played for about half an hour. After the tub, I got him out and let him attempt to walk again. Same thing, he whimpered and the ankle was really weak.

I wrapped the ankle in an ace bandage and he can hobble around on it and I gave him some ibuprofen. What do you think, should I get him in bed and see how it is in the morning, take him to our family doctor tomorrow if it's still an issue, or take him into the ER tonight?

He's sitting in a chair watching TV right now and doesn't appear to be in any pain. He has almost no language skills, so it's not like I can ask him how bad it hurts. I also didn't see any swelling or bruising in the ankle.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

If it where me I would probably wait till in the morning simply because he isnt in pain right now not walking and because well it is cheaper to go to the Dr. than the ER.

[Mama Mko]

I personally would take him to the ER.

[The4OfUs]

If there's no swelling, redness, or warmth to the skin, and he's not in pain, I'd wait until morning. If any of that develops, I'd have him seen tonight.

[Hedgehog Mtn]

If it were me I'd watch it tonight and make a decision tomorrow. If there isn't risk of internal bleeding (like a head or whatever) I'm willing to wait a short time and see. Plus I'd really prefer the Dr to the ER - in my opinion that's not an emergency but I have strong feeling about what I feel is ER misuse

[confustication]

It depends on what you mean by your being able to see the ankle start slipping on him. If he's simply favoring it, I would wait and see. If you can literally see movement, he should go now.

On a side note, he *should* have enough language skills to be able to communicate a bit at this point.

[Adaline'sMama]

Is there an immediate care center nearby? That might be cheaper and faster than an ER. Our is open until midnight.

[starling&diesel]

I'd take him to the ER to get an x-ray. Kids are very resilient with breaks and sprains, but tissue and bone damage can happen nonetheless. But then again, I'm a paramedic, so err on the side of diagnostics. Also, it would be good to get the ankle properly wrapped (not to say that you didn't do a good job, but there are ways to wrap it depending on the angle of the twist or injury).

[carmel23]

Our ped. wants to see them if they don't want to walk on the foot. Can you call the after hours line for your peds office and ask?

I think I would do something, go to ER or urgent care.

[GardenStream]

My DH came in from working outside and we discussed it. DS was sitting on my lap, he was laughing and playing as we read a book. We agreed that it wasn't something we needed to take care of tonight. It was bedtime anyway, so I just put him to bed. He is sound asleep. I'll look at it tomorrow and see how it looks and if he can put weight on it. I have a feeling we'll be heading to our doctor tomorrow morning.

[GardenStream]

DS woke up this morning with no pain, swelling or bruising. I have been up since 5am worrying about him, but when he got up he ran around like any other day. Wow, a huge sigh of relief!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

AWSOME! Distaster averted. FEW!

[The4OfUs]

yay!

[sapphire_chan]

It was definitely a good sign that it wasn't already swollen or heated.

[lyterae]

I'm glad he's okay!

DD fell last year and got her knee lodged between two stools, she cried like I'd never heard before, wouldn't walk on it and cried anytime she moved it. We went to the ER and sat there for 2 hours... By about the 2 hour mark she was running around the lobby and we opted to just go home. It's amazing how resilent children are.

[curiouscanadian]

My 2 cents...

Great to hear to LO is fine!

Just wanted to chime in here for others if they search and find this thread that toddlers can, in fact, have a broken leg and still walk on it.

Two weeks ago DS tumbled down the two steps in our entry way but since I happened to have a Dr's appointment booked for 8:30 the next morning we decided to wait it out. Long story short, he was walking on it for most of the next day before it got casted, just moving a lot slower and with the occasional obvious sharp pain. The Dr said it has something to do with how toddler bones are more plastic and that they're more prone to compression breaks where nothing gets displaced.