My 2 year old hurt his foot and the x-ray showed no fractures but did reveal a small ankle effusion. The doctor recommends an MRI, but since my son is only 2, he would probably have to be sedated. Is there anything we more could learn from the MRI that would be helpful in treatment?
Hi.  More important to me is how the swelling is? How the pain is? Is he able to walk? If his ankle is becoming better by the day, then MRI is not needed. He can be observed for a few days. In the meanwhile he must rest his ankle.  So he will need some bandaging over the ankle and can apply Voting gel (diclofenac) over the area and can take Paracetamol syrup by mouth for pain.