Question
A three-and-a-half-year-old child suddenly fell and couldn’t get up while playing on a trampoline, complaining of knee pain. An X-ray at the hospital showed no fractures, and there was no swelling in the knee. Now, it’s been five days, and the child still cannot walk normally. Parents are extremely concerned. How long will it take for recovery? Will appropriate exercise and training be needed?
Answer
If there is no fracture, it may just be a soft tissue injury. Given the child’s young age and strong bone flexibility, there might be a slight greenstick fracture (no fracture line), which would not show obvious symptoms and would heal on its own later. If symptoms are pronounced, manual reduction may be necessary. Of course, closely monitoring the child’s pain is also essential. If the pain persists or other abnormalities occur, it should be checked further at a better hospital.