Broken Bones

The harder kids play, the harder they fall. The fact is, broken bones, or fractures, are common in childhood and often happen when kids are playing or participating in sports. Most fractures occur in the upper extremities: the wrist, the forearm, and above the elbow. Why? When children fall, it's a natural instinct for them to throw their hands out in an attempt to stop it.

Although many kids will have one at some point, a broken bone can be scary for them and parents alike. To help make things a little easier if a spill results in a fracture, here's the lowdown on what to expect.

How Do I Know if It's Broken?

Falls are a common part of childhood, but not every fall will result in a broken bone. The classic signs of a fracture are pain, swelling, and deformity. However, if the break isn't displaced (see Different Types of Fractures, below), it may be harder to tell.

Some telltale signs that a bone is broken are:

• You or your child heard a snap or a grinding noise during the injury.
• There's swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injured part.
• It's painful for your child to bear weight on the injury, touch it, press on it, or move it.
• The injured part looks deformed. In severe breaks, the broken bone may be poking through the skin.

What Do I Do?

If you suspect that your child has a fracture, you should seek medical care immediately.

Do not move the child — and call for emergency care — if:

• the child may have seriously injured the head, neck, or back
• the broken bone comes through the skin. Apply constant pressure with a clean gauze pad or thick cloth, and keep the child lying down until help arrives. Don't wash the wound or push in any part of the bone that's sticking out.

For less serious injuries, try to stabilize the injury as soon as it happens by following these quick steps:

1. Remove clothing from the injured part. Don't force a limb out of the clothing, though. You may need to cut clothing off with scissors to prevent causing your child any unnecessary additional pain.
2. Apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in cloth.
3. Place a makeshift splint on the injured part by:
   • keeping the injured limb in the position you find it
   • placing soft padding around the injured part
   • placing something firm (like a board or rolled-up newspapers) next to the injured part, making sure it's long enough to go past the joints above and below the injury
   • keeping the splint in place with first-aid tape
4. Seek medical care and don't allow the child to eat, in case surgery is needed.

Different Types of Fractures

A doctor may be able to tell whether a bone is broken simply by looking at the injured area. But the doctor will order an X-ray to confirm the fracture and determine what type it is.

Reassure your child that, with a little patience and cooperation, getting an X-ray to look at the broken bone won't take long. Then, he or she will be well on the way to getting a cool — maybe even colorful — cast that every friend can sign.