FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 5, 2021 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
health
Is it broken? What to do when a kid’s
injury is more than just a bump or bruise
Ouch! Kids break bones in
many ways. Whether from a fall,
a sports-related injury, roughhousing
or just an accident, a
broken bone isn’t something to
take lightly. But, how do you
know if it’s broken and what
should you do next?
Know the signs
Broken bones are most common
in the upper and lower
extremities (limbs). Th e upper
extremities include the arms,
elbows, wrists and fi ngers and
the lower extremities include
the legs, knees, ankles and feet.
Tendon and ligament injuries
(sprains and strains) can happen
in these areas as well, but
don’t occur as frequently in children.
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. Th e general signs of a fracture
are pain, bruising and swelling
with tenderness over the area
involved.
If the child or adult heard a
snap or grinding sound when
the injury occurred, it’s more
likely to be a fracture, but not
necessarily.
What should you do if
you think it’s broken?
Th e severity of your child’s
injury will determine the level
of care they need. If the area
isn’t deformed, extremely swollen
or bruised, immediate medical
attention may not be necessary.
You’ll still want to make
an outpatient appointment so a
doctor can conduct an exam and
X-rays if needed.
Your child will need
immediate medical
attention if:
Th ere is a break in the skin
and bone is showing.
Th ey can’t bear weight on or
use the extremity 15 minutes
aft er the injury occurred.
The pain is uncontrollable
with rest, elevation, ice and
over-the-counter pain medicine.
Th ere is a suspected neck or
spine injury.
Th ere are some things you
can do at home to begin helping
right away:
Cut or remove clothes: If the
arm or leg appears misshapen or
swollen, carefully remove or cut
clothing surrounding the aff ected
area.
Try to reduce swelling: Apply
a cold cloth or ice-wrapped
towel to the swollen area. Avoid
putting ice directly on the skin
(without a cloth or towel), as it
could result in frostbite.
Make a temporary splint: A
makeshift splint can be used to
help limit movement and prevent
further injury until you can
see a medical professional. You
can create a makeshift splint
with soft padding and something
fi rm, like cardboard or
folded-up newspapers, wrapped
with an elastic bandage.
Broken bones
can heal with the
proper treatment
Th e doctor will provide specifi
c direction, but kids usually
need to wait at least three to
six weeks before resuming normal
activities so their broken
bone can fully heal. Th e bigger
the bone, the longer healing usually
takes.
There are bone injuries
that are more concerning.
Fractures through the growth
plate, fractures into the joint,
and fractures that injured the
nervous or vascular bundles
can have long-term consequences.
While breaking a
bone can seem scary, with the
proper medical attention and
treatment, your child’s injury
will heal, and they can go
back to doing the things they
love.
You know your child best.
If you have concerns or are
uncertain about the severity
of the injury, it’s always best
to seek treatment right away.
Learn more about bumps,
bruises and broken bones
from Children’s Hospital of
Richmond at VCU at chrichmond.
org/brokenbone.
— Courtesy of BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
