To reduce pain and inflammation, your doctor might recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever. Your doctor might ask you to return for X-rays during the healing process to make sure the bones haven't shifted. In the meantime, you'll likely wear a splint. Before applying a cast, your doctor will likely wait until the swelling goes down, usually five to seven days after injury. Restricting movement of a broken bone, which requires a splint, sling, brace or cast, is critical to healing. Depending on the amount of pain and swelling you have, you might need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or even a general anesthetic before this procedure. If you have a displaced fracture, your doctor might need to move the pieces back into position (reduction). This type of fracture is also more common in children. ![]() One side of the bone is compressed, which causes the other side to bend (buckle). Most broken bones in children are greenstick fractures because children's bones are softer and more flexible than are those of adults. The bone cracks but doesn't break all the way - like what happens when you bend a green stick of wood. The bone is broken into pieces, so it might require surgery. Surgery might be required to realign the fragments. The bone fragments on each side of the break aren't aligned. The broken bone pierces the skin, a serious condition that requires immediate, aggressive treatment to decrease the risk of infection. The time needed for healing depends on a variety of factors, including severity of the injury other conditions, such as diabetes your age nutrition and tobacco and alcohol use.įractures are classified into one or more of the following categories: Statistical data in this article was reviewed by the AAOS Department of Research and Scientific Affairs.Treatment of a broken arm depends on the type of break. Your doctor may recommend follow-up visits for up to one year to ensure that growth is proceeding normally. If the fracture disrupts the growth plate at the end of the bone, it could affect the development of the bone. To allow the bones to safely regain their normal strength, the child should avoid playing on playground structures, such as monkey bars, for 3 to 4 weeks after the cast is removed. This stiffness will go away on its own, usually without the need for physical therapy.įor a short period of time, the forearm bones may be weaker due to immobilization in the cast. When the cast is removed, the wrist and elbow joints may be stiff for 2 to 3 weeks. A more serious injury, such as a Monteggia fracture, may need to be immobilized for 6 to 10 weeks. A stable fracture, such as a buckle fracture, may require 3 to 4 weeks in a cast. The length of time the cast is worn will vary depending on the severity of the fracture. Because the growth plate helps determine the future length and shape of the mature bone, this type of fracture requires prompt attention. In most cases, this type of fracture occurs in the growth plate of the radius near the wrist. ![]() Also called a "physeal" fracture, this fracture occurs at or across the growth plate. ![]() ![]() This is a very severe injury and requires urgent care. There is usually a fracture in the ulna and the top (head) of the radius is dislocated. This injury affects both bones of the forearm. There is usually a displaced fracture in the radius and a dislocation of the ulna at the wrist, where the radius and ulna come together. The fracture extends through a portion of the bone, causing it to bend on the other side. The fracture is across the upper or lower portion of the shaft of the bone and does not affect the growth plate. This is a stable fracture, meaning that the broken pieces of bone are still in position and have not separated apart (displaced). The topmost layer of bone on one side of the bone is compressed, causing the other side to bend away from the growth plate. There are several types of forearm fractures in children:
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