How to deal with childhood fractures

It's no use: No matter how much we take care of our children, one time or another we will probably have to deal with the emergence of a fracture.

Children are very active, especially boys. For this reason, the main causes of fracture are related to falls and accidents resulting from sports or leisure activities, such as soccer, skateboarding, cycling, running, among others, as well as falls from high places, such as trees and roofs.

The most common fractures in pediatric patients occur in the fingers, humerus (arm), ankle, forearm, and toes.

Although there are other injuries and causes for hospitalizations and seeking emergency care in hospitals (burns, skinned, among others), fractures are even responsible for most of the care.

Is it really broken?

Children and even adolescents may have difficulty identifying a fracture, so it is up to parents and adults present to do so. The fracture is characterized by very intense pain in the affected site. Often the victim cannot move the affected limb as a result of severe pain.

In addition to this factor, check for edema (swelling), bruising (purple marks) or deformities, as if the bone had "left its place".

How should I proceed?

If you believe that it is indeed a bone fracture, the procedure to be adopted is simple, but it takes calm not to scare the child even more. Give some medicine with analgesic effect, such as Ibuprofen, for example. Then make an ice pack at the affected location for about 15 minutes. Look for objects that can assist you in immobilizing the limb, such as pieces of wood or cardboard and ice cream sticks, attaching with strips, bandages or even pieces of fabric.

The next step is to seek medical attention in a hospital, emergency room or clinic, giving preference to places that have orthopedics specialists.

A few years ago, most fractures were treated using plaster, for a period that could range from three to eight weeks. Currently, however, many doctors opt for the use of flexible titanium rods, which shortens the immobilization time with plaster and decreases the chances that the bone will calcify in an incorrect position. After some time, surgery is performed to remove the stems.

Childhood Fractures May Indicate Bone-Density Problems (April 2024)