How your pediatrician in Granger, IN, can help when your child has fractured a bone
Fractures happen every day, and if your child experiences one, it can be a scary event. They can happen suddenly too, from a traumatic injury or playing a school sport. If your child fractures a bone, you want it to heal properly. Proper care of a bone fracture is a skill your pediatrician has mastered.
Dr. Charisse Johnson at Premier Pediatrics in Granger, IN, offers comprehensive pediatric medical care, including treatment of bone fractures.
Children can fracture any bone, but fractures occur most often in the arms, elbows, legs, collarbone, or hips.
In minor fractures, you may not notice any obvious signs or symptoms. For more serious fractures, the signs and symptoms are often obvious. Your child may have fractured a bone if you notice:
- Tenderness and pain around the injured area
- Bruising and swelling around the injured area
- An obvious deformity involving the bone
- Loss of mobility of the injured body part
- Limited range-of-motion of the injured body part
There are some easy measures you can try at home to make your child more comfortable. Remember to:
- Apply ice packs to the injured area
- Elevate the injured body part
- Immobilize the injured body part with a sling or splint
- Administer over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications
- Have your child rest and avoid moving the injured body part
When you bring your child to the pediatrician, treatment depends on how severe the fracture is.
A small, minor fracture may only require palliative treatment and rest until the injury heals.
For more involved fractures, professional treatment may include:
- Surgical therapy to realign bones and repair damaged tendons and ligaments
- Immobilization with casts, splints, slings, or other assistive devices
- Physical therapy to help restore mobility and flexibility
If your child suffers a bone fracture, proper treatment and care are essential. To learn more about the treatment of bone fractures, call Dr. Charisse Johnson of Premier Pediatrics in Granger, IN, at (574) 855-4575. Call today!