Fracture in Children
Childhood is the time when children are the most active physically. Constant engagement in activities like running, playing, etc. invite a risk of bone fractures. This is also the time when the bones grow the most and hence require adequate amount of minerals to do so. But before going into the depth of the causes of bone fractures, let us first broaden our knowledge w.r.t what a bone fracture actually is.
What is a fracture?
We all are quite familiar with the word ‘Fracture’ but what exactly is it? A break in the continuous structure of a bone is termed as a fracture. The severity of a fracture mainly depends on the force that caused the breakage of a bone. Mainly a fracture can be categorized as-
- Open fracture: A bone breaks while being exposed through a wound in the skin.
- Closed fracture: A bone breaks without creating a wound in the skin.
How are child fractures different than adult fractures?
The term fracture is used regardless of the fact whether it’s for a child or an adult. But is it really the same for both? The answer is no. While the condition is still called a fracture, bones in children differ from those in adults in a variety of ways. These include-
- Flexibility: The bones of children are more flexible as compared to those in adults due to difference in their chemical composition. As a result of this, bones in children are more bendable and less brittle as compared to adult bones.
- Healing: Bones in children are growing, so they can correct their shape over time. As a result, their bones heal faster as compared to adults.
- Vulnerable growth plates: Children have open growth plates (areas from which bone grows) at each end of their long bones. Injuries to these growth plates are common and, in rare cases, can result in limb-length discrepancies or angular deformities.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
How to know if it’s a fracture or just an injury? Following are the symptoms that’ll help you identify a fracture-
· Swelling over a bone
· The child’s arm or leg is deformed
· If the pain in the injured area increases when the child moves it even a little bit
· The child is unable to carry weight on his/her leg, ankle or feet
· In case of an open fracture, the broken bone will protrude from within the skin
· In case a large bone is affected, the child may turn pale or feel sick and dizzy
How long does a fracture take to unite?
The time taken to unite a fracture depends on a variety of factors like age, bone density, blood supply and the type of fracture. As a result, there is no definite answer to how much time a fractured bone takes to heal. However, on a commonality, a spiral fracture in the upper limb takes 6-8 weeks to unite; in the lower limb, it takes twice as long. Fractured bones in children join more quickly as compared to adults.
How is a fracture treated in a child?
Based on the severity of the fracture, the required treatment will differ. One thing to note here is that an open fracture is a condition that would require immediate treatment. Moreover, the end goal of any treatment would be to control the pain and heal the bone so that the child can function normally. The different treatments include-
? Medicine: Medicines can be used to help ease the pain.
? Splint or cast: It is used to keep the broken bone in place.
? Traction: This treatment allows the bone ends to align and heal by stretching the muscles and tendons around the broken bone.
? Surgery: In situations where the above treatments fail to attach the broken bone, the child’s bone may be surgically treated.
What should be done post-fracture?
A person who has a fracture or has had it in the past will know that once you have it, all you wish to do is lay at one place all day and relax, eat chips and watch movies. But is it what needs to be done? Whether its a child or an adult going through a fracture, the answer is a big NO. Here are a few tips that will act as catalysts in your bone healing process.
1. Exercise: Make sure your child doesn’t stay at the same place all day. Exercising makes sure that your broken bone doesn’t lose its strength and is in great form when it heals completely.
2. Adequate calcium intake: “You need to drink milk. It has calcium which will make your bones strong”- all children must have heard this at least once. As much as calcium is necessary for stronger bones, taking it in excessive amounts doesn’t mean that your child will heal faster. The best thing to do is to give him/her calcium doses as recommended by the doctor. It is advisable that you choose natural calcium over supplements for your child.
3. Balanced diet: As much as calcium is important for the bones, so are a lot of other nutrients. It’s not just important to give your child food that makes his bones strong, but to give him food that helps his overall body function nicely. What you put inside your child’s body is very important. A balanced diet not only makes the bone heal faster but helps the body recover from the injury at a much better pace.
Your child and Us
When it comes to children, there are a number of hurdles that come in the way, whether it’s your child refusing to take the medicines, or is too scared to undertake any procedure. We at vardaan hospital not only contribute to your child’s treatment but make sure we are with you at every step of your child’s recovery. Our team of doctors will give you the best advice and even better results.