The First Steps Divide – Being Parents
First-step fracture can be common in children who are learning to walk. Although not very serious, it can have physical as well as mental consequences for children. Here’s everything you need to know about this type of fracture.
What is the first steps fracture?
The first step fracture is also known as the toddler fracture or CAST fracture in English. In fact, when a child begins to take his first steps, he suffers from many knocks and falls, although their impact is small. The bones in the leg are not yet strong enough or used to carrying weight.
This is why the fracture of the first steps can occur. It is a fracture of the tibia, a bone in the leg. In this case, it is an undisplaced fracture, which means that the bone does not move from its place of origin.
As the name suggests, this type of fracture usually affects children aged 9 months to 3 years, that is, children of an age to learn to walk.
What symptoms does it produce?
Due to the age at which it occurs, children do not yet know exactly how to manifest what is happening to them or what hurts them. This is why the most common symptom is the refusal to walk.
Babies notice pain when they walk, so they try to avoid stepping on them in any way possible. There may be localized pain when touching the lower part of the leg near the ankle.
The child may also limp to avoid supporting the injured leg and the pain. This lameness appears suddenly. We must take into account that many times we do not even remember that the child has fallen or kicked himself, so it can be difficult to tell what is going on.
How is the first step fracture diagnosed?
The diagnosis will be made by the specialist. It will be based on the child’s symptoms, how things happened and a good physical exam.
In addition to this, additional imaging tests will be necessary. The ultrasound will be possible but the examination which will offer the most information to the doctor will be, in this case, the X-ray of the child’s leg.
What is his treatment?
Once the x-ray is taken and the diagnosis is made, a splint will be placed on the child’s leg to allow immobilization. Another x-ray will be done after 10 days.
If it is really a fracture of the first steps, at the end of 10 days, one will observe, on the radiography carried out and in the zone of the fracture, what we know under the name of bone callus.
This image means that the fracture is being repaired. Therefore, once it is confirmed that this is this type of fracture and that it is healing, the immobilization splint will be kept for two more weeks.
What you need to know about the first steps fracture …
Due to the normal growth and development of the child, this fracture is common. However, if you pay attention to the possible symptoms that may appear and if you consult the specialist quickly, its treatment is simple.
Normally, these fractures heal well and the child will not have any physical sequelae after the bone has solidified.
However, we must take into account that there are not only physical consequences. In these cases, small children are not able to reason like adults. It is possible, after suffering from this fracture, that some of them are afraid to continue learning to walk.
Patience will therefore be very important here. We will have to explain to them what is happening, as much as possible, and support them, trying to reason with them so that they start walking again and without forcing them.
