Return to blog Often, during active games or running, a baby can twist his leg. What is the right thing to do in such a situation: run to the emergency room or limit yourself to home treatment?
It is difficult for young children to sit still because they are actively exploring the world around them. Therefore, it is impossible to do without injuries and falls. During outdoor games, the main load falls on the ankle, where the ankle joint, ligaments, tendons, many blood vessels and nerve endings are located. The younger the child, the higher the risk of damage to fragile joints and muscle joints. Children can get injured even by jumping from a small height, slipping or placing their feet incorrectly when walking. And girls can twist their ankles in shoes with a small heel.
Types of injuries and their symptoms
Injuries are conventionally divided into two types: closed and open. With open injuries, the integrity of the skin suffers. These include cuts and burns. Closed injuries are dislocations, fractures, bruises, and ligament ruptures. The main symptom is pain. It is localized in the joint and is felt during movement or at rest. In the area of damage there is compaction and pulsation of blood vessels. The child cannot step on his feet and limps severely when walking. The site of the dislocation swells and becomes bluish in color.
Foot dislocation
Dislocation in the ankle joint
Complete dislocation of the foot is a fairly rare injury.
Such dislocations of the ankle joint are always accompanied by serious damage to the ligamentous apparatus and ankle fractures. Less commonly, foot dislocation is combined with other intra-articular fractures. The foot may dislocate outward, inward, backward, forward, or upward. External dislocation of the foot occurs when the foot is turned outward and to the side, accompanied by a fracture of the outer malleolus. If the patient turns the foot inwards, an internal dislocation of the foot is possible, combined with a fracture of the inner malleolus.
The cause of a posterior foot dislocation is usually a sharp forceful bending of the foot towards the sole or a strong blow to the shin from the front. Anterior foot dislocation can occur when there is a strong blow to the shin from behind or when the foot is suddenly forcibly bent to the back. An upward dislocation of the foot is extremely rare and usually occurs as a result of a fall from a height.
A patient with a sprained foot experiences sharp pain in the ankle joint. An external examination reveals severe swelling, cyanosis, bruising and deformity in the ankle joint. Movement in the joint and support on the leg is impossible.
To clarify the diagnosis and identify concomitant damage to bone structures, radiography is performed in two projections. Foot dislocations, accompanied by damage to the bone and ligamentous apparatus, are among the most severe injuries. Normal joint function is possible only with the most accurate restoration of the normal relative position of the fragments.
The success of reduction of a dislocated foot is determined by a number of conditions: a careful study of the characteristics of the dislocation and displacement of fragments, adequate pain relief, and the correctness and sequence of actions of the traumatologist when reducing the foot. Correction of fresh foot dislocations using general anesthesia, local anesthesia or local anesthesia. Muscle relaxants are used if necessary.
Upon completion of the reduction, the joint is fixed with a plaster splint and a control radiograph is taken. Injuries to the ankle joint are accompanied by severe swelling of the soft tissues, so a continuous (circular) bandage is not applied immediately after reduction. The plaster is strengthened after the swelling subsides (usually on the fifth day after reduction).
The period of immobilization is determined by the severity of associated injuries and ranges from 8 to 12 weeks. After removing the bandage, therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy are required: heat therapy, diadynamic therapy, therapeutic foot baths, etc.
Under no circumstances should you step on the injured leg after the reduction of a dislocated foot - even the toughest plaster cast is not able to hold the damaged bones of the foot in place under a load equal to the weight of the human body. The consequence of early loading can be repeated displacement, and in the long term - a sharp limitation of mobility in the joint, constant pain and the development of post-traumatic arthrosis.
Subtalar dislocation
It is extremely rare. Appears as a result of a sharp twisting of the foot. Accompanied by ligament rupture, sharp pain, swelling, and deformation of the foot. To clarify the diagnosis and exclude concomitant fractures, radiography is performed.
Straightening of a subtalar foot dislocation is performed under general anesthesia or general anesthesia. Then a plaster splint is applied for a period of 5-6 weeks. Subsequently, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy, physical therapy and is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes for a year after the injury.
Dislocation of the tarsal bones
It is extremely rare. Occurs as a result of a sharp turn of the foot. Accompanied by pain, swelling, and deformation of the foot. Possible circulatory problems in the distal parts of the foot.
Reduction is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Then a plaster splint is applied for a period of 8 weeks. Subsequently, physiotherapy and physical therapy are prescribed, and it is recommended to wear arch supports or orthopedic shoes for a year after the injury.
Dislocation of the metatarsal bones
Rarely seen. It can be complete (displacement of all metatarsal bones) or incomplete (displacement of individual metatarsal bones). Accompanied by sharp pain, swelling, shortening and expansion of the foot.
Reduction is performed under local or general anesthesia. A plaster cast is then applied for up to 8 weeks. Subsequently, therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, and wearing an instep support or orthopedic shoes are indicated for a year.
Dislocations of the phalanges of the fingers
Rarely seen. Typically caused by a direct blow to the metatarsus or toes. Accompanied by pain, swelling, deformation. The finger is set under local anesthesia. Then a plaster splint is applied for 2 weeks. Subsequently, physiotherapy and physical therapy are prescribed.
First aid
A child sprained his ankle - what to do first? To alleviate the condition you need:
- remain calm and do not panic;
- try to calm the baby or distract him;
- carefully remove shoes and socks from the child’s injured foot;
- provide complete physical and emotional peace;
- secure the injury site with a bandage;
- apply ice, previously wrapped in a towel, for 10 minutes at intervals of 15 minutes;
- Call an ambulance or take the child to the emergency room yourself.
Consultation with a traumatologist is very important. He will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
Drug treatment
If a child twists his leg, it is necessary to apply a tight elastic bandage to the ankle joint to ensure complete rest. Sometimes the doctor decides to put a plaster cast on the child's leg.
It is advisable to carry out treatment with ointments on the second day after injury. Products based on painkillers and warming drugs help well: “Nise Gel”, “Fastum Gel”, “Dolobene”.
If the pain in the leg does not subside, the patient can be given a tablet (the dosage is indicated in the instructions). For children under three years of age, syrups such as Panadol and Nurofen for children are used for pain relief.
Timely diagnosis is a chance to prevent complications
Only a traumatologist can reliably determine the nature of the injury and make a differential diagnosis. During the appointment, the doctor will clarify the circumstances under which the injury occurred, examine the leg and ask the child about the nature of the pain (if possible). Next, it is recommended to take an x-ray. The image will confirm that there is no damage to bones or joints. In addition, an X-ray examination shows the condition of the ligamentous apparatus, since sprains and ruptures of ligaments are frequent companions of twisted legs.
Traditional methods of treatment
Alternative medicine is popular in every family. The parent himself chooses how and with what to treat his baby. The use of folk remedies is an excellent addition on the path to recovery.
Compresses
There are many ingredients for making compresses. The main ones are vodka, tansy flowers, arnica, and ginger root. Vodka compress is the most common remedy for sprains and sprains of the ankle joint. To make it, you need to moisten a bandage or gauze, apply it to the child’s leg, cover it with a bag or wax paper, cotton wool and bandage it tightly. The bandage is left overnight or for 7-8 hours.
A compress of tansy flowers is used for its excellent warming effect. 3 tbsp. spoons of tansy are poured with hot water, left for half an hour and applied to the damaged area until the solution cools.
Ginger is a plant that is beneficial for blood circulation and eliminates the effects of toxins on the child’s body. Ginger-based compresses promote successful recovery. Pour a small amount of the grated plant with hot, but not boiling water and keep on the fire for a while. Moisten gauze or bandage and apply to the child's leg. Change the dressing as it cools.
Mountain arnica is widely used in medicine in the form of decoctions and compresses. It has a warming effect and serves as an indispensable remedy for muscle strains in athletes. For a compress, you need to take 4 teaspoons of the plant and brew them with 1 liter of hot water. After 10 minutes the solution is ready for use.
Cabbage leaves are also used as compresses; you can make a paste from potatoes, garlic or onions.
Baths
Sea salt baths will help relieve pain and swelling after injuries. Pour warm water into a basin or bathtub, add salt and aromatic oils. Coniferous or mint scents work well. For the best effect, gently massage the foot steamed in the bath.
Recovery time and possible complications
The duration of treatment varies from two weeks to two months. The leg may hurt for quite a long time. To successfully restore the joint, doctors recommend using baths, rubbing, and light massage more often. It is necessary to explain to the child how important it is for the first time after removing the bandage to do exercises to improve blood circulation and eliminate congestion. Walking barefoot on sand or small pebbles helps.
If you start putting stress on the joint before it has completely healed, serious complications will arise. The ligaments will stretch, and the child may dislocate his leg out of the blue. In such cases, the dislocation will be called habitual. Frequent leg injury leads to arthrosis or arthritis, as well as ligament rupture, the treatment of which will require surgery.
Do not forget that during the period of illness the child most of all needs attention and care. Timely treatment and a successful combination of traditional and traditional medicine methods will not take long to arrive and will help the baby overcome this period as painlessly as possible.
Joint injury
As a rule, this phenomenon tends to occur when running, active games, and in a situation where the baby fails to stand on his leg. When walking calmly, it is almost impossible.
When running, the maximum load is placed on the foot and at the same time exceeds the total weight of the child by five times, no less. And here it’s enough to get distracted at the wrong time, slip on the grass, or in winter on ice, not notice the hole and get caught through it. There may be several reasons. The main thing that parents should remember is that it is better to consult a doctor, even if it seems to you that the damage is minimal and it will not harm the baby’s health in any way. Most often, the treatment takes place without consequences, and sometimes a sprained leg does not require medical intervention at all (at most, compresses performed at home will be prescribed). But there are cases when an injury, which at first glance is harmless, leads to serious complications. That’s why you shouldn’t put it off or wait until everything goes away on its own - you need to urgently contact a doctor.
When my son was 5 years old, in kindergarten, while playing tag, he twisted his leg. She began to get sick (there was an aching character). At the same time, it was slightly swollen. I carried him in my arms to the doctor (straight from kindergarten). It's good that the clinic is nearby. The orthopedic doctor examined the child’s leg and sent him for an x-ray so as not to miss anything and to be on the safe side. Fortunately, the injury was not serious. The doctor recommended smearing the bruise with Troxevasin, and not loading the joint for now; walking was allowed, but running and jumping was not. The orthopedic surgeon scheduled a follow-up appointment for us in three days. By this time, I myself could see that my son’s leg was no longer bothering me.