Kids are at a high risk of having a fracture especially that they play roughly, jump from high levels and do not calculate the risk of injuries. Differentiating bruises from fractures is a bit confusing especially if you have never experienced any bone fracture before. You should usually follow the symptoms of broken bones that are the following:
A sudden crack noise
Severe pain and tenderness. Your child won’t let you touch the broken part
Increase of pain when moving
A stiff member
A limb out of position
What should I do if my child has a broken bone?
In this situation you should not panic and try to support your child. First you should protect and immobilize the fracture, put your child in a comfortable position and call your doctor immediately.
While waiting for medical assistance you can follow these steps:
Put ice on the broken area, it will help minimize the pain and swelling. Make sure not to apply ice directly on your child’s skin. Wrap them in a towel.
Wrap his limb with a fabric bandage but not tightly and support the fracture with a cloth or cushion.
Elevate the broken limb.
What is the treatment of broken bones?
The treatment of a fracture depends on the fractured limb, the level of injury and the type of fracture. Usually the fracture healing takes 6 to 8 weeks.
Doctors will perform an X-ray to determine the level of fracture and then decide on the type of casts used.
What is a cast?
It is a big bandage made of two layers that immobilizes the broken bone. One layer is soft and directly rests on the skin and an outer hard layer. Some casts are made of fiberglass with waterproof liners to permit kids to continue their life as normal as possible.
What should I observe when my child has a cast after a fracture?
You should look for the following:
If the cast is too tight, your child toes or fingers may look purple or white. Call your doctor to fix the problem.
Kids usually remove the edges of the cast since it can irritate their skin and arouse itching. Blow some air with the hairdryer inside the cast to cool the itchy part.
Always look for cracks. The doctor will repair the cracks without the need of changing the cast.
The first few days, your child will experience mild pain because of the fracture. The doctor may prescribe some ibuprofen or any other medication to ease pain.
Don’t show your worries while your child is wearing a cast. Let his friends sign it with permanent marker and decorate it with stickers. That would help him to accept it!