Signs of a bone fractureBroken bones are most common in the upper and lower extremities (limbs). The upper extremities include the arms, elbows, wrists and fingers and the lower extremities include the legs, knees, ankles and feet. Tendon and ligament injuries (sprains and strains) can occur in these areas as well, but do not occur as frequently in children. Show
If your child has an extremity injury, there are a few ways to determine if they need to be seen immediately or if it can wait until later. Some symptoms may seem obvious; others may not. The general signs of a fracture are:
If the child or adult heard a snap or grinding sound when the injury occurred, it is more likely to be a fracture, but not necessarily. Regardless of when they need to be seen, our same day orthopaedic clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached by calling (804) 828-2467. Common broken bones in children
What are the different types of fractures?
What is a bone bruise?Bone bruises are less severe than bone fractures. This happens when the bone gets several small cracks with blood and fluid building among the cracks right under the skin. The most common areas for bone bruising occur are the knee and ankle. If your child is experiencing severe pain, swollen or tender area near the injury, swollen or stiff joints near the injury or changes in skin color over the injury, it might be bruised. We recommend that you seek medical attention so we can check the injured area and determine whether the bone is broken or bruised. Treating a broken or bruised bone: When to seek care and how to helpOur walk-in orthaepedic clinic can see your child if you suspect your child has a bruised or broken bone. A child should be seen ASAP if:
If ANY of these things are true seek medical attention immediately and do not allow the child to eat in case surgery or a procedure to align the fracture is needed. If there is severe bleeding, a break in the skin or a question of a spinal injury, call for emergency care. If the extremity appears deformed, clothing should be carefully removed or cut from the injured limb and the limb should be supported with a makeshift splint. A makeshift splint can be made with some soft padding around the injury and something firm extending beyond the joints above and below the injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends wrapping a small board, cardboard or folded up newspapers with an elastic bandage or tape to make a temporary splint. If all of the above things are negative and the extremity is not very swollen, then the child can potentially wait to see a physician in an outpatient clinic to have an exam and get x-rays if needed. To reduce swelling, you can apply cold compresses or ice wrapped in cloth, a towel or other material, but do not apply ice directly to the skin as this could cause frostbite (freezing of the skin and underlying tissues). Most broken bones will be recognized immediately or within a day if a child is still not able to use the extremity as usual. If after a day this is the case, the child should be seen in an outpatient clinic, either with the primary care doctor or an orthopaedic surgeon. Although many children are not able to tell us exactly where this type of injury is, they usually will protect that extremity or cry when it is touched, which is another sign that a child may need medical care. Sometimes x-rays will not show a fracture if it is through the growth plate and the child will still be treated for a fracture if there is enough suspicion. Growth plates are cartilage and do not show up on x-ray. Therefore a fracture through the growth plate that has not moved or shifted will not show on the x-ray. These are minor fractures, but still may need to be immobilized for symptoms and to protect the child from doing more harm. To learn more about ankle, elbow, femur, forearm or growth plate injuries and how each are treated, see the “I Broke My…” section of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America website. How long does it take to heal a broken bone?Depending on the type of bone and the severity of the break, it can take about six weeks or more until your child can return to normal activity. For example, bigger bones will take longer to heal than smaller bones. Our orthaepedic specialists will walk you through the what the healing process will be like, how long it will take for the broken bone to heal and answer any other questions you have. A broken bone can be scary, but with proper care and treatment, they will heal and be okay. Disclosure: This article is solely dealing with extremity injuries and not multiple traumas including possible abdominal or head injuries. If any of those are suspected, seek medical attention immediately. Do not move the child if there is suspected neck or spine injury. Originally published in April 2016
Broken bones can happen after an accident like a fall, or being hit by an object. Anyone can break a bone. Older people and those with osteoporosis may fracture bones more easily. Get medical help immediately for a broken bone. Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury is severe. The three most common signs of a broken bone are: It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether a bone is broken if it isn't displaced. If you have broken a bone, you may experience the following:
In addition, you may feel faint, dizzy or sick as a result of the shock of breaking a bone. If the break is small or it's just a crack, you may not feel much pain or even realise that you've broken a bone. Common fracturesBones which are commonly fractured include:
When to seek medical helpYou should seek medical help as soon as possible if you think you've broken a bone. If you think you may have broken your toe or finger, you can go to a minor injury unit. Go to your nearest emergency department for a broken arm or leg. Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury seems severe or you're not able to get to an emergency department quickly. Very severe suspected breaks, such as a broken neck or back, should always be treated by calling 999. Treatment for a broken boneThe broken bone must be properly in line and held in place, often with a plaster cast, so it heals in the right position. If you don't receive the right treatment, you could develop a serious infection or a permanent deformity. You may also develop long-term problems with your joints. It's important not to eat or drink anything if you think you've broken a bone, as you may need a general anaesthetic (where you're asleep) to allow doctors to realign it. More useful links
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