WAG Avulsion fracture in an eight year old :( Does anyone have experience with this?

[Mrs. Puma]

Poor little Puma Jr fell awkwardly from a beam HS last night. It happened right at the end of practice, so when I got there she was icing and elevating. She would not put any weight on it and wanted me to take to her to urgent care, but to be honest I thought she was being a little dramatic! I gave her ibuprofen and reassessed this morning. Even though it was only slightly swollen and slightly bruised, she still didn't want to put any weight on it at all, so I did bring her in. Sure enough, once again, Mommy was wrong (hangs head in shame...). This is like 5 times now that I've doubted her and been wrong...they said it was just a small chip and are having me follow up with the orthopedist. Thank god my mom works for the big practice here, so I'm bringing her to the big boys Friday morning. They have already looked at the report and X-ray from urgent care and at this point are not super concerned, so that's good news. She is on crutches right now. She has a meet on the 17th, so in twelve days. What are the chances she can compete? She's freaking out! I told her it's more important that she heals properly and she still has 4 meets after this one. I feel so bad for her because it's been a tough season so far (gym switch 6 months ago, back to JO, much bigger meets and higher expectations) and in the last couple weeks she's made big improvements and is really excited about this meet...If anyone has any advice or experience, I'd love to hear! Thanks!

 

[Iwannabemargo]

Bless her, hope she gets better soon. Better to take time and heal properly now that risk re-injury and a bigger injury in the future.

 

[GymCMLA]

is it a Jone's fracture (avulsion of the head of the 5th metatarsal)

 

[sce]

Bummer, poor kid. No idea on healing time, but do agree give it enough time. She's young and being fully healed is important.

 

[skschlag]

my best non-doctor guess is that she will be out for at least 6 weeks. Fractures take a while to heal, so it won't be quick. and avulsion fractures usually involve soft tissue as well.....so that will be a while.

Hope you get better news, but better prepared than not....

 

[Deleted member 17723]

Where is the fracture? If it is a middle toe (not big toe or pinky) it mightt be possible, but I wouldn't risk it. If it is the big/pinky toe or her foot/ankle, no way. Even if she can that is very risky. It is a bummer though Being hurt sucks, but healing is more important than gymnastics. She will have more gymnastics, but she only has one body. Let me stress that. I ignored that last year and had some small naggy injuries turn bad. I would hate to see that happen to Puma jr. And, I feel awful that she is on crutches! I was on them for weeks and they were awful!! I hope the ortho clears her to come off them soon Maybe get a boot? Alvusion fractures usually take at least 6 weeks, and I believe (mind you I'm not a doctor) that they usually involve soft tissue. I think they occur when a ligament pulls it away, so soft tissue could have been hurt. I hope she heals up quickly, and can get back out on the floor soon Best wishes, and update us!!

 

[sce]

I don't have a lot of experience with them, but I do understand they are common in kids whose growth plates are soft. So instead of a sprain they get a fracture.

 

[2G1B]

I would bet that she won't be competing in 2 weeks. :-(

I had an avulsion fracture and grade 3 sprain of my ankle last January. I was in some sort of brace for I think 8+ weeks. The doctor wanted a cast for the first 3 weeks; but it was my right ankle and I really needed to be able to drive.

My son had an avulsion fracture in his elbow - 3 weeks in a cast 3 weeks after that before normal training and almost a month after that before things were normal.

 

[B&M's mom]

Sorry to hear about the injury. I'd be prepared for being off for 6 weeks. My DD had a buckle fracture (where the bone was very slightly dented) and that took 6 weeks to heal. It seems like 6 weeks is the standard healing time.

 

[UnoMas]

Would tend to think 6-8 weeks for any type of fracture, that's been my experience so far. I know how hard it is when they want to compete so badly and have to miss a meet. I hope it heals quickly for her.

 

[Mish]

I know this is different, but my daughter had a buckle fracture on pinky toe. She started fully practicing on it after about 2 weeks (but did take another week and a half to be back to almost doing things with proper form again! In hindsight, she should have kept off of it more. She was bummed that she missed a meet, too, but kept telling her better to miss one meet than the rest of the season. Good luck to her!!

 

[my4buffaloes]

I don't see her competing at the next meet. My dd broke a metatarsal in her foot this summer and it was 4-6 weeks for her. Her not putting weight on it was my main clue, it really didn't look like much. Watching her crawl around the house made me take her in.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Sadly, I don't think she will be back in less then 3 weeks, 6-12 being more likely.

I would keep her working upper body conditioning, if possible. Pullups and the like.

 

[flippin out]

Where is break? Is this a toe or in the foot injury? If it's a Jones fracture then surgery may be a possibility. Know 2 that had a Jones. 1) no surgery. In cast 4 weeks. Then boot another week.
2) surgery. Took as long but foot is stronger

You won't really know until seeing specialist. No use guessing, prepare yourself for longer time out and hope to be pleasantly surprised if it's s simple 2 week recovery.

 

[gymdoc]

No meet this month. Likely 4-6 weeks in a boot

 

[duyetanh]

I have no idea, but I am so sorry! Just when she was really making progress, too! She can still do things in the gym though...I would have her continue going daily so she can keep her strength up. I would assume she can do bars?

 

[beachgirl]

Just wanted to say I was looking forward to hearing about Puma Jr's successful compulsory season. I hope it's a short setback and she can make it to some of the meets.

 

[cadybearsmommy]

I have no advice, but I wanted to say I'm so sorry! I know my dd would be devastated too. I hope she heals quickly and the doctor may give her the ok to keep training, if she just sticks to conditioning and maybe bars.

 

[Mrs. Puma]

Thanks everyone! I don't know where the break is, sorry...I didn't see the X-ray. Not that I'm a radiologist, but they didn't point anything out to me. So I don't know if it's Jones. I will say that based on where she says it hurts and where it is bruised, that my guess would be 5th metatarsal? Again, I'm just a pharmacist, not a doctor! So we'll see Friday morning. The orthopedist has already seen the urgent care report and X-rays, and my mom (his nurse) says at this point he's not that concerned. So hopefully it's small? It's still really not that swollen or bruised, but she still (almost 24 hours later at this point) will not put any weight on it at all. She didn't have practice tonight anyway, but she desperately wants to go tomorrow. I must admit it made me pretty proud when she begged the urgent care doctor to go "just to watch and condition" (does that make me CGM?! Lol). Obviously I will trust in the specialist and in her coaches. Thanks everyone, I'll keep you posted,...

 

[Mrs. Puma]

No meet this month. Likely 4-6 weeks in a boot

Where's the "dislike" button?! Lol I always appreciate your input. Uggg....I can't believe this!!! Hopefully it's not as bad as the urgent care MD thinks....ortho appointment Friday morning...