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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM
foot problem in child
MY 11 SON WAS JUMPING AROUND THE YARD WITH HIS BALL. WHEN HE CAME DOWN FROM JUMP HE LANDED ON THE SIDE OF HIS FOOT. IT HURTS HIM PRETTY BAD, BUT THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY SWELLING. SINCE THIS INJURY (5 DAYS AGO) HE SEEMS FINE TO RUN AND PLAY WIHT HIS FRIENDS. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT ACTIVITY HE SITS FOR THE REST OF NIGHT BECAUSE HE CLAIMS THE SIDE OF HIS FOOT (OUTSIDE EDGE) IS REALLY SORE. I AM ASSUMING THAT NOTHING IS BROKEN SINCE HE CAN WALK ON IT. SHOULD I BE WRAPPING IT WITH A TENSION? I HEARD THAT MAKES IT WORSE.....THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
RESPONSEHi,
Here is my concern. Your son is only 11 years old and his bones have not fully finished growing. Any time there is trauma like this you have to be concerned that there may have been damage to the growth plate of the bone, in this case possibly the fifth metatarsal bone.
If there is a fracture and it goes untreated, the break near the growth plate will adversely affect further growth of that particular bone.
I realize your son is not in pain all the time, but that is not a way to come to the conclusion that there is no fracture.
To be on the safe side, I would recommend you take him for an x-ray to rule out any fracture, particularly to the growth plate of the bone.
The other point to make is that even if the growth plate is not adversely affected, but there is a fracture to a different part of the bone, that too needs to be properly treated in order for it to heal. Otherwise, again, your son could be left with chronic pain in that area of the foot.
The good news is that since he is young and in good health, if there is a fracture of any kind he should heal in a short period of time, with proper care.
Marc Mitnick DPM
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