Kids wait all year for summer to run outside, play sports, and go to the playground. One of the hot trends in summer birthday and graduation parties is bouncy houses. While tons of fun, they can be quite dangerous. As children jump up and down around other children, it is very easy to sprain, fracture, or break any one of the 33 bones in the foot. Accidents can happen anywhere, and there can be confusion about what constitutes a sprain, fracture, or break.
Sprains = ligaments tear, pull, or stretch
Fracture = break in the bone
If the worst happens, have your child or loved one checked by a podiatrist. The first thing that will happen will be an examination of the feet and ankles, and an X-ray of the foot. Depending upon the outcome of an initial X-ray, other tests may need to be ordered; MRI or ultrasound. The additional tests are great for finding torn ligaments and stress fractures.
Broken bones, or fractures, need to be set prior to casting. If the bones don’t line up correctly or stay in place, then surgery may be required by using pins and metal plates. Stress fractures require the R & I out of RICE; rest and immobilization. Boots, casts, or crutches can be used until healing is finished.
Sprains also require the R & I and heal faster than a broken bone. Soft casts, boots, and crutches help the patient remain mobile. Torn ligaments may also require surgery.
Image by Joe Shlabotnik. (2012). Bouncy Castle. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/6984052944/
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