To know if your child has broken any bones, it is important to be aware of abnormal swelling in the arms, legs or other parts of the body, such as hands and feet, as it is common for the child to be unable to complain about the pain he feels, especially when he has less than 3 years.
In addition, another sign that your child may have broken a bone is when he has difficulty moving an arm or leg, becoming unwilling to play or preventing his arm from being touched during the bath, for example.
Fractures in children are more frequent before the age of 6 due to falls or car accidents and, generally, they do not cause deformation in the limbs because the bones are more flexible than those of the adult and do not break completely. See how to protect your child in the car at: Age for baby to travel.
Child with arm in a cast
Swelling in the fractured arm
What to do if the bone is broken
What to do when there is a suspected broken bone in the child is:
- Go immediately to the emergency room or call an ambulance by calling 192;
- Prevent the child from moving the affected limb, immobilizing it with a sheet;
- Compress the fractured area with clean cloths, if there is excessive bleeding.
Usually, the treatment of the fracture in the child is done only by placing a plaster on the affected limb, and surgery is only used in the most severe cases when there is an open fracture, for example.
How to speed up recovery from a fracture
The child's recovery time from the fracture is about 2 months, however, there are some practical precautions that can help to speed up the process, including:
- Prevent the child from making unnecessary efforts with the plastered limb, avoiding aggravation of the injury;
- Sleeping with the plastered limb higher than the body, placing 2 pillows under the affected limb to prevent the appearance of swelling;
- Encourage the movement of the fingers of the affected limb to maintain the strength and breadth of the joints, reducing the need for physical therapy;
- Increase the consumption of calcium-rich foods, such as milk or avocado, to accelerate bone healing;
- Check for signs of complications in the affected limb such as swollen fingers, purple skin or cold fingers, for example.
In some cases, after recovery from the fracture, the pediatrician may recommend that the child undergo a few physiotherapy sessions to recover the normal movements of the affected limb.
In addition, parents should take their child to regular visits to the pediatrician during 12 to 18 months after the fracture to ensure that there is no growth problem with the broken bone.
See more tips on how to speed recovery at: How to recover from a fracture faster.
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