Broken Bones 101
Broken bones are scary—for kids and their parents. But broken bones, or fractures, are surprisingly common in young children. According to NationwideChildrens.org, as many as 50 percent of boys and 40 percent of girls experience broken bones. A bone breaks when more force is put on the bone than it can handle. There are many different types of fractures, but these are some of the more typical ones you might see in children:
- Open fracture: The break pokes through the skin.
- Closed fracture: The break does not come through the skin.
- Non-displaced: The bone breaks, but the parts are still aligned.
- Displaced: The bone breaks, but the parts are not aligned.
- Growth plate fracture: A break happens in the part of the bone responsible for new growth.
While there are many different types of fractures, there are also many different bones in a child’s body that have the potential to be broken, as well as a variety of ways to do so. Dr. Michelle DePhillips, a pediatric emergency doctor at Children’s Mercy, says, “Fractures we commonly encounter in the emergency department are forearm and elbow fractures. These can be caused by falling onto an outstretched arm or falling directly onto the arm such as falling off a bike, monkey bars or bed, or tripping and falling while running. We also frequently see lower leg fractures from falls or trampoline injuries.”
Knowing whether or not your child has broken a bone is not always easy. The site might be red or swollen and tender to the touch, or your child may favor or refrain from using that part of his body. “It was the hardest decision whether or not to take our 4-year-old for x-rays for fear the experience would cause more distress than needed. However, when she asked for help eating fruit snacks, I knew we needed to go!” says Jillian, Overland Park mom of three.
Children’s bones are continuously growing, so they heal more quickly and can repair over time if they heal crooked. Oftentimes, fractures in children can be managed with a cast instead of surgery. While the process can be challenging for children, Jana, an Olathe mom of three, says, “CMH talked him through each step so there were no surprises. They also provide great online videos for casting that we watched, which helped to prepare us before going in.”
Adjusting to life with a broken bone, and potentially a cast, can be challenging. “While the nurse fully prepared and educated us on caring for our daughter and easing her through the pain, I was not prepared for the lack of sleep, discomfort and frustrations there would be with a soft cast. Getting her hard cast really helped. Once she accepted it, she felt more confident and found a new way to function. We also opted for the cast that could get wet, which was a nice feature so we didn't have to wrap it to take a bath,” says Jillian. If you are not given an option for a cast that can get wet, Kathleen, an Overland Park mom of three, shares this tip: “Wrap the cast in press n seal and push down into the cast. Then put the broken limb in a trash bag to protect it from water.”
Having a child with a broken bone can be scary, inconvenient and difficult to manage, but the good news is children’s little bones heal much faster than an adult’s bones.
Julie Collett lives in Overland Park with her four children and is hoping she doesn’t jinx herself when she says no one has ever had a broken bone!
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.