A child's arm fracture

All children are very mobile. They often climb trees, climb various swings and play carelessly, which can lead to a fracture. A fracture of the hand in the child is one of the most frequent injuries that physicians have to face. Of course, every person can have a fracture of the hand, regardless of age. But children's fractures have their own specifics.

Features of children's fractures

Children's bone tissue is different from adults. It contains more organic substances - protein ossein. In addition, the shell covering the bones from the outside is much thicker and better supplied with blood. Also, children have tissue growth zones. These factors determine the specific features of trauma in toddlers.

Most often doctors have to face a fracture of the "green branch".This fracture is so called, because outwardly the bone looks as if it was broken, and then bent. But this is not the most serious injury. The displacement of bone fragments may not be strong due to the fact that the injury affects only one side of the arm. On the second side, damage can be avoided due to a dense pile, which helps to withstand loads of fragments.

There are times when a broken arm in youth in the future has serious consequences. The whole point is that the bone junction line passes in the area of ​​growth of connective tissue, which is near the joints. If it is damaged, it may happen that the shortening prematurely closes and does not completely form it. In addition, in the future, this shortening may curve during the growth of the child. Therefore, whenever possible, monitor the child and avoid injuries.

In children, unlike adults, very often there are lesions of outgrowths on which bones are attached. Such a fracture is a detachment of muscles from the bone and ligaments. But in a child, tissues and bones coalesce much faster than in adults. This is due to the fact that the periosteum is well supplied with blood, the processes of callus formation are accelerated. A fracture in a child heals about a half times faster than an adult.

Another feature of fractures in children is that it is possible to self-correct the consequences of displaced bone fragments after trauma. This is due to the growth of bone and the functioning of muscles. But here it is necessary to take into account the fact that the organism can cope with some displacements, but with some there is not. Therefore, only the parents will have to make a decision about whether surgical intervention is necessary.

Classification of arm fractures

Fractures can be pathological and traumatic. The first arise as a result of painful processes that go to the bone and break its integrity and strength. To get such damage, you need to put quite a bit of force. There will be enough light shock or shock, so these fractures are sometimes called spontaneous. Traumatic fractures arise as a result of the action of a mechanical force of considerable magnitude over a period of time. Such fractures happen much more often.

Fractures are also classified as closed and open. Closed fractures are aseptic, that is, uninfected. With such fractures, the integrity of the skin is not damaged, and all bone fragments and the area of ​​trauma are isolated from the environment. With an open fracture, the integrity of the tissues is damaged. There may be a small wound or extensive rupture of soft tissues. Such damage is initially contaminated.

Fractures with or without bias

It all depends on the degree of dissociation of tissues. A fracture with displacement is considered complete if the connection between the fragments is broken. The incomplete one is one in which the integrity is not broken or the fragments are maintained.

Fractures are classified and in the direction of the line of bone damage( humerus, ulna or ray).Depending on this, they are divided into helical, longitudinal, transverse, oblique, T and B-shaped and star-shaped. The child sometimes has fractures of spongy, flat, tubular bones. The danger of such fractures is that such bones form the basis of the limbs. With the displacement very often there are traumas of tubular bones, which, depending on their location, are divided into diaphyseal, metaphyseal and epiphyseal.

Given the affected area, the fractures are divided into multiple and isolated fractures. There may be several types of fractures at the same time. Depending on each case, the treatment regimen is assigned individually.

How to detect a fracture in a child?

To understand if a child has a fracture or not is not at all difficult. All the symptoms of the fracture are absolutely identical with the fractures of the hand in an adult. The child will cry, be capricious, complain of pain. In the place of fracture there will be severe pain, swelling and puffiness. In addition, the deformity of the hand can be clearly expressed, and the child can not move it. Very often a hematoma appears on the site of the fracture. In the first days after receiving an injury, the child may have a body temperature of up to 38 degrees.

But it also happens when parents make mistakes in the diagnosis. For example, with a break in epiphysiolysis, osteoepiphiseolysis, and sub-adenoid bone, limb mobility can be maintained, while the contours of the limb remain unchanged. Only when plucking a child will experience pain. That's why doctors sometimes confuse such fractures with bruises. To avoid erroneous diagnoses, it is best to immediately take an X-ray.

What to do in case of a fracture?

The first thing to do is to immobilize the limb. It is necessary to fix not only the damaged area, but also two adjacent joints. This will reduce the risk of displacement and reduce pain. After this, it is necessary to impose a tire and hang it on a cloth or scarf bandage. Do not try to fix the bones yourself, this will only worsen the situation.

If the child has an open fracture, then severe bleeding may occur. Therefore, before immobilizing the limb, you first need to stop bleeding, treat the wound and apply a sterile bandage. If the fracture is open, but there is no bleeding, just remove any dirt, clothes, etc. from the wound and rinse the wound under running water or hydrogen peroxide. Apply a clean bandage and go to the doctor. Be sure to give your baby pain medication, but do not let him eat or drink a lot. Perhaps the hospital will need to do anesthesia.

Recovery period

If the fracture is closed and without bias, the recovery period will take approximately three to four weeks. If the fracture is complex, everything will depend on the individual characteristics of the baby's body. In case of a fracture, a plaster bandage is applied and sent home. With a complex fracture, you will have to visit the doctor every two days so that he can control the process of bone consolidation.

The rehabilitation period will take some time. After all, the child will have to develop movements in the joints, increase muscle tone and restore the supporting functions of the limb. This process will help speed up swimming, physiotherapy, massage and exercise therapy. Enough 11 sessions of physiotherapy for complete recovery.

Do not forget about baby food. It must be balanced and enriched with all necessary vitamins and minerals. In addition, it is necessary to give mineral complexes.