How do I know if it’s a Fracture?

Scraped knees, band aids and the occasional broken bone – chances are, the more active your child the more familiar you are with these. While we do our best to wipe their tears and kiss their “owies”, we ourselves sometimes need a little help of our own – Is this injury a fracture? Do I need to rush him to a doctor? Or would I just be one of those ‘anxious moms’ who makes mountains out of molehills?Signs of a Fractured Bone:

So here’s how you can make out if your child’s injury is a fracture:

  • The most obvious sign would be if you or your child actually heard a snap or grinding sound during the injury.
  • There is swelling around the injured area or there is a visible bruising.
  • There is pain every time your son / daughter moves the limb or touches it. If the injured part is a leg, your child may not be able to bear his / her weight due to the pain.
  • If the injured part looks deformed or there is a bump or change in the shape of the bone, it is a very evident sign of a fracture that you wouldn’t be able to miss.

Signs of a Fracture

How to differentiate between sprains and fractures:

Occasionally the hurt may not be very severe for you to know instantly if it is a fracture or just a sprain. In case it is an undisplaced fracture where the bones are broken but remain in line with each other, it may become difficult to tell. In such cases, you may wait for 2-3 days and use the RICE method:

R: Rest the affected area

I: Put Ice over it (wrapped in a towel) for 15-20 minutes 3 or more times a day

C: Compress the swollen area with a crepe bandage (not too tight to cause numbness or swelling below the bandaged area)

E: Elevate the injured area to minimise the swelling

If the swelling or pain persists even after 2-3 days, it is a good idea to take your child to the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

Some Basic First Aid Rules for a Fracture:

If your child has suffered from a fracture, the first thing that you can do is to stay calm. Panic often does more damage. Remember these basic first aid rules until the time your child reaches a doctor:

  • Do not move a broken bone if it involves the head, spine, neck or hip or if it is unstable. If the circumstances are such that you need to move your child to a safer place, grab him / her by her clothing and move gently.
  • Remove clothing from around the injured part without moving the part. You may need to cut off clothing with scissors to prevent movement.
  • Apply ice wrapped in a towel.
  • You may make a temporary splint by placing soft padding around the injured part and placing rolled up newspapers or a board next to the injured part. You may use a wrap-around bandage to loosely keep the splint in place. Ensure that the splint is long enough to cover the joint above and below the injured area.
  • Do not allow your child to eat anything till you see your paediatric orthopaedic doctor, in case surgery is required immediately.

Maintaining Calcium and Vitamin D levels, optimum exercise to develop bone strength and following simple safety precautions can help prevent fractures. However, at times, you just cannot stop a broken bone. At such times, knowing how to be prepared can help you take better care of your child.

Hope you found these tips on how to know if it’s a fracture useful. If you have any other queries related to your child’s bone health, do feel free to visit Dr. Mandar Agashe at Agashe Paediatric SuperSpeciality Care in Kurla. He can be contacted on phone at 022 42435000 or via email at contactus@agashehospital.com.