First Aid for Broken Bones

Fracture Facts

A child's fracture heals more quickly than an adult's because kids' bones are surrounded by a thick membrane called the periosteum, which helps to rapidly remodel and restore the broken bone. This membrane gradually thins with age.

A child's broken thighbone will take four to six weeks to heal, compared with 20 weeks for an adult's and two weeks for a baby's.

Bone fractures in children are most often treated with a fiberglass or plaster cast and rarely require surgery.

You should follow up with your child's orthopedist within one year of a fracture to check that the break has healed and the bone is growing properly, especially if the fracture occurs in the growth plate at either end of the bone. Nearly half of your child's total bone mass is formed by age 10. A diet that includes 500 to 800 milligrams of calcium a day will boost her bone strength.

 

If you suspect a broken bone :

A broken bone can cause severe pain, swelling, tenderness, and also bruising, making it difficult for your child to use that part of his body.

  But even if he's able to move an injured hand or foot, for example, your child may still have a hidden fracture that needs medical attention. If you think the bone is broken, you should:

Call a hospital if your child is unconscious, bleeding uncontrollably, or cannot walk due to a possible break in a leg or ankle bone.  Also, NEVER try to move your child yourself in the unlikely event of an open fracture  (i.e., the bone has penetrated the skin).  Apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding until help arrives. Call your doctor immediately.

Take your child to the hospital yourself if he is able to walk (i.e., if he breaks an arm or wrist). First immobilize the broken bone, since movement can cause further bone injury or damage surrounding blood vessels, nerves and tissues.

To create an arm splint: Place your child's forearm against his chest. If this is too painful, place a pillow or sheet between his arm and chest. Using gauze, a sheet, or a blanket, begin at the elbow and wrap the splint in a diagonal direction around your child's back, coming around his chest and wrapping the upper and lover arm all the way up to the hand. Secure the splint snugly with an ACE bandage or safety pins. Apply ice to the area.

 

Is it a Sprain or Break ?

 

Your child has taken a bad fall, and all you know for sure is that she's in pain. Here's how to spot and treat what's wrong.

SPRAIN

What happens:  Ligaments, the strong bands of connective tissue that join bones together, stretch or tear - often in a fall. Ankles, knees, and wrists are most vulnerable.

What to expect:  Pain, bruising, and inflammation of the limb that your child has twisted or landed upon.  He may feel a tear or pop when the sprain occurs.

How is it treated: Most doctors recommend RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). Moderate sprains may require an bandage for 48 hours after the injury or until swelling subsides. Have a coach tape the area if extra support is needed during vigorous activity.

 

FRACTURE

What happens: A bone cracks, breaks, or shatters due to external pressure.

What to expect: Severe pain or  deformity ( if the bone is bent in an unnatural position), or in rare cases, an open wound.

 Some breaks are less obvious: If you're not sure, monitor the injured area for two days. If pain persists or increases, your child may have a greenstick fracture ( only one side of the bone is broken) or a hairline fracture ( the bone is cracked ).

How it's treated: Take your child to the doctor for an X ray right away. Fractures are treated by fitting a cast around the injured limb or by manually resetting the bone before casting. Severely fragmented bones require surgery.

 

 

Bone Danger Zones

Falls, the leading cause of injury among children, are responsible for most pediatric bone fractures. In fact, children 10 years and younger suffer injuries from falls twice as often as the rest of the population. Here are the most likely hazards leading to a bone-breaking fall - all what to do to keep your child safe.

 

HAZARD SAFETY STEP
Bike Make sure your child wears a helmet and rides only on flat, smooth surfaces.
Furniture and Windows Set chairs, couches, and other large objects that kids may climb on away from windows and in a carpeted area. Install window guards on all of your home's windows.
Playground Avoid asphalt and concrete play areas; look for soft surfaces, such as mulch, sand, or grass. Make sure the playground has separate areas for swinging, running, and quiet play. Keep preschoolers away from older, more active children.
Baby walker Use a stationary activity center instead of a baby walker with wheels.
Stairs Install safety gates at the top and bottom of household stairs.
Sports Field Outfit your child with appropriate protective equipment, such as wrist guards, knee pads, a mouth guard, and a helmet.
Pool Don't let your child go near a pool without adult supervision; teach him to walk - never run - around the pool area. Build a four-sided fence at least five feet high with self-closing and self-latching gates around your pool.
Shopping Cart Fasten the safety belt around your child; never allow him to stand up in the cart.

 

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