Fracture Care

What Is A Fracture?

A fracture is any complete or incomplete break in the bony structure of the skeleton. A fracture is not “a less severely broken bone”. Fractures occur in a variety of patterns depending on the cause of the injury and the health of the bone structure. Fractures are a common injury in children who are old enough to walk.

Heber Valley Pediatrics can help diagnose and treat broken bones, providing non operative fracture care via casting and splinting. Through her experience in helping to start the Pediatric Fracture Clinic at Primary Children’s Hospital, Melissa Smith is highly trained and qualified for fracture care. Whether for an initial visit or follow up care, you can call or book online to schedule an appointment.

How Does Fracture Treatment In Kids Vary From That Of Adults?

Fracture treatment in children is similar to adults in that the primary goal is to promote healing of the bone in a normal position. However, children are different than adults in that they have superior bone healing and remodeling capacity. Because of this, many pediatric bone fractures can be treated solely by external stabilization of the bone in a cast, splint, or brace. Some fractures require manipulation of the bone fragments into a more normal position before being placed in a cast or splint (this is known as “reduction”). Because of their bone healing capacities, children are less likely than adults to require an operation to stabilize the bone. However, some fractures require surgery because of their severity or location. Fractures that include a child’s growth plate are much more likely to require surgical intervention.

How Long Will A Fracture Take To Heal?

Most simple fractures will heal in 6 weeks; younger children may heal fractures even sooner. More severe fractures, especially those involving joints and growth plates, can take up to three months or more for full healing to occur. Satisfactory healing of the bone in good alignment is monitored by examinations and x-rays over several months.

What Things Can I Do To Help My Child’s Fracture Heal?

Most children with broken bones heal remarkably well and experience minimal or no longterm effects from their fractures.

These are helpful for bone health and healing:

Ice and elevate to limit swelling and inflammation during the first 3-7 days.
Help your child to eat a balanced and nutritious diet. Calcium and vitamin D are especially important nutrients for bone health.
Stop smoking/tobacco use. Nicotine impairs healing and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke may be at higher risk of poorly healed fractures in growing bones.

Monitor your child’s activity and encourage them to stick to your doctor’s recommendations for activity restrictions. Pain usually subsides long before the fracture is fully healed. Just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean that they are ready for a return to full activities.

What Does Pediatric Care Entail?

Your child has severe, increasing pain and swelling that is unrelieved by icing, elevation, and the medication recommended by your doctor
Your child has increasing tightness, numbness, tingling, or burning in the injured extremity or has difficulty moving fingers or toes below splint or cast
Your child has symptoms of compromised circulation to the injured extremity: fingers and toes are turning pale, purple, blue and cold to the touch.
Your child experiences a serious fall or blow to the injured extremity and develops severe pain or reports hearing/feeling something “crack” or “move”
Your child develops fever or chills without other explanation, i.e. a flu or cold.

What Conditions Can Pediatric Care Treat?

Fractures can be quite painful, especially in the first few days after an injury. The body responds to a broken bone by producing swelling and inflammation at the site of the fracture. The most effective way to treat pain is to combat the inflammation and swelling through icing and elevation of the injured limb.

Icing: Never apply ice to bare skin. Blue gel ice packs or frozen vegetables wrapped in a dishtowel work well. Ice the extremity for periods of 20-30 minutes. If it is difficult to apply ice because of a bulky cast or splint, it is still helpful to apply ice up higher on the injured limb, above the cast or splint.
Elevation: In a reclining position, use pillows to support the limb in a position 12-20 inches above heart level.
Medication: can be helpful to alleviate the discomfort associated with a fracture. Tylenol (acetaminophen) administered every 4-6 hours can be very effective for pain relief. Administer Tylenol according to the dose recommended for the child’s age and weight on the bottle. If you find that this dose is not adequate, speak with your pediatrician, who may recommend a higher dose or a different medication. Additionally, you may also administer occasional doses of children’s ibuprofen (Motrin) to supplement the Tylenol. However, repeated and prolonged use of ibuprofen should be avoided because high usage may impair bone healing.

For questions related to pediatric pain medication, consult a pediatrician or pharmacist. Both of these medications should be stored in a secure location, out of the reach of children.

What Conditions Can Pediatric Care Treat?

The splint or cast will help to hold the bone in proper alignment for the fracture to heal.

While casts and splints offer protection from the outside environment, they do not function as “body armor”. Children need guidance from their parents to protect the extremity from outside injury, i.e. the cast is not a weapon or a shield.

It is most important to keep the splint clean and dry. Cover the splint with a plastic bag for bathing and, even when covered, don’t attempt to submerge the cast or splint. If it becomes slightly damp, you may attempt to dry it out with a hair dryer on low heat. However, if the splint or cast becomes saturated or you noticed significant odor or skin irritation, you need to schedule an appointment to have the cast or splint changed.

“It itches!” Most patients experience intermittent itching under a cast or splint. In general, the best therapy for itching is distraction because the itchy sensation will subside on its own. Sometimes, it is helpful to scratch the same spot on the opposite limb. Do not allow your child to stick any “scratching utensils” inside the cast or splint because items may break off, become stuck in the splint, or disrupt the inner padding, all of which can cause skin wounds under the cast itself.

Discourage your child from pulling on the exposed padding that protects the skin from rough edges on the cast/splint.

If you notice or your child complains of persistent skin irritation (redness, rawness, blistering) loosening, breaking or splitting of the cast, rubbing at the heel or elbow, or severely increased pain or swelling, their cast or splint fit should be assessed by a physician.