Playing a contact sport, or just climbing or tripping, may result in a bone break or fracture. You might be able to see the bone protruding through broken skin, or you may suspect a fracture due to symptoms like pain, tenderness, or swelling.
As a parent, what should you do when your child breaks a bone? Orthopedic specialist Dr. Michael Blackwell and the team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, located in Tomball, Kingwood, and Conroe, Texas, are here to help you through this medical situation.
In this blog, we guide you on the next steps to take. If you’re in an emergency, call 911 for immediate support.
After an accident or injury, take a moment to take stock and assess the situation. The nature and severity of your child’s injury make a difference in the right first response steps.
Bones can break or fracture in several ways. A stable fracture breaks the bone into two pieces, but remains in correct alignment. In a compound fracture, the bone breaks through the skin and may be visible to the naked eye. A stress fracture won’t be visible, but can be identified by careful examination and observation of key symptoms.
Watch out for localized, sudden-onset pain around the area of an injury or trauma, which may signal a broken bone. Other tell-tale symptoms include swelling, bruising, or discoloration.
When you think your child may have broken a bone, try to prevent them from moving the affected part of their body. Don’t try to realign a broken bone by yourself. That requires professional care.
Your child may show signs of shock, such as feeling cold. Keep your child warm after an accident or injury.
If your child is unconscious, not moving, or not breathing, you need emergency support from 911 right away. An open, bleeding wound also means you should call 911, and apply pressure with a clean bandage to control the bleeding.
In cases when the skin isn’t broken, you can use an ice pack to reduce initial pain and swelling around a broken bone. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin, but wrap the pack in a towel before applying it for 20 minutes at a time.
No matter what type of broken bone your child suffers from, or where the break is found in their body, professional medical care is a must for complete and correct healing. It never hurts to have a suspected broken bone checked out by the medical experts at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Dr. Blackwell examines your child’s injury and lets you know the type of treatment that will be needed. His team cleans and dresses the injury. If needed, we realign the fracture. Severe bone breaks may require surgery for full stabilization, with implanted pins or rods holding the bone together in the right shape so that it can start to heal.
Dr. Blackwell ensures that you understand your child’s condition, treatment plan, and care needs. We send you home with comprehensive instructions for the next steps in your child’s healing process. With our support, you’re not alone in dealing with this situation or safeguarding your child’s health.
For help with a broken bone, or a suspected fracture, contact Dr. Blackwell and the team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine online or over the phone right away.
