Fracture
Your child has been diagnosed with a fracture, or a broken bone.
We know this can be a stressful time with lots of information from healthcare providers. It can be difficult to absorb everything.
We hope the following pages will be helpful in providing you with the education and resources you need to support your child from home.
How Are Fractures Treated?
Your healthcare provider will have recommended immobilization.
A. Finger or Toe Fractures
A fracture of the finger or toe may be treated with a splint or simply "buddy" taping the injured finger to a healthy finger or toe.
B. Collar Bone Fractures
A collar bone fracture is treated using an arm sling, which relieves stress on the broken bone, thereby allowing it to heal.
C. Other Fractures
For most other fractures - like those involving the ankle,
foot, wrist, hand, forearm, or elbow - the bone is initially
kept in place with a splint as opposed to a full cast.
A splint leaves room for swelling because fractures cause a
lot of swelling in the first couple of days. This improves
over time. A full cast goes all the way around the limb and,
in a new fracture, can cut off circulation to the affected
limb. Most splints are made with a material called plaster.
Note: some leg or ankle fractures can be immobilized with a
walking boot or a leg Zimmer splint.
What to do at home
Click below for information on ways to help at home.
Pain management
To help alleviate pain, you can give your child
acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (Advil), so long as
your child does not have allergies or other reasons not to
take these medications.
Unless your doctor advises you otherwise, give the dose
recommended on the medication package.
Safe Acetaminophen Dosing for Infants and Children
Mount Sinai - Ibuprofen Dosing for Infants and
Children
Caring for your child's splint
Keep the splint dry to avoid any odour and to ensure it
maintains its strength. Getting it wet can weaken the splint
and affect its ability to hold the fracture in place.
Cover the cast in a plastic bag while bathing to prevent it
from getting wet.
If your child has a splint on the foot, do not allow your
child to walk on it. This can also weaken the splint.
Elevate
When you can, keep the injured area raised above the level of the heart to reduce swelling. You can use a pillow, stool, or armrest to help elevate an injured arm or leg.
Fracture Clinic and Hand Clinic Appointment
Not all fractures require follow up at the fracture clinic or hand clinic - your physician will decide if this is necessary.
Fracture Clinic
For all fractures (except the hand), you will get a call in
1-2 days to set up an appointment. If you do not hear back,
please call Southlake at 905-895-4521 ext. 5064 during
business hours to set up your appointment. Leave a message
if no one answers.
At your appointment, the specialist will look at your
child's injury, remove the splint your child received
in the emergency department, and they may replace it with a
full cast
Many fractures will heal on their own in a cast. Certain
types of fractures may require surgery to keep the bones in
place. The specialist will discuss this with you if it is
necessary.
Hand Clinic
For hand fractures, you would have received your appointment
date and time with the location of the appointment prior to
leaving the emergency department.
At your appointment, the specialist will look at your
child's injury, remove the splint your child received
in the emergency department, and they may replace it with a
full cast
Many fractures will heal on their own in a cast. Certain
types of fractures may require surgery to keep the bones in
place. The specialist will discuss this with you if it is
necessary.
When to seek medical attention
Here are some signs that, if present, should lead you to seek immediate medical attention for your child:
- loss of feeling below the cast and injured area (e.g., if your child has a broken ankle and describes that they cannot feel their toes)
- loss of circulation below the cast and injured area (e.g., if your child has a broken wrist and their fingers turn pale or blue)
- severe pain in the injured area
- splint is soft or misshapen after getting wet (if your child has not yet been seen in a fracture clinic, proceed to the ER to get your splint replaced)
Follow Up
Please follow up in fracture clinic as instructed or with your primary care provider. Of course, if you feel your child needs immediate medical attention, please do not hesitate to call 911 or bring them to your closest emergency department.
We hope this has been useful. Thank you for using Paediatrics@home!