How to Know If a Child’s Wrist is Broken
Whether the result of roughhousing, a fall from the monkey bars, gym class, team sports, or just a trip or fall, any number of injuries can befall our children during physical activities. Some injuries are hardly any cause for concern. But in cases of a child’s broken wrist, the care of a hand doctor like Macomb County hand specialist Dr. Rehman is essential.
In this article, we discuss everything a parent should know when suspecting that their child may have broken their wrist.
How did the child’s broken wrist happen?
Before a diagnosis can be made, parents should first and foremost try to determine the exact cause of their child’s broken wrists. In most cases, this injury resulted from the child falling onto an outstretched hand (an occurrence so common, it has its own acronym in the hand doctor community: FOOSH.)
But FOOSH is not the only potential cause of a child’s broken wrist. Other causes include aggressively twisting the wrist, as well as the wrist sustaining a direct blow of blunt impact.
Common causes of broken wrists in children include falls onto an outstretched hand, sports-related injuries, or accidents during play. Recognizing the symptoms of a broken wrist is crucial for prompt intervention. These may include severe pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness to the touch, and difficulty moving or using the affected wrist.
Where is the child’s broken wrist pain?
One way to diagnose if the wrist has been broken is to note the location of the pain. A major indication of a child’s broken wrist is pain occurring at the base of the thumb. Macomb County hand doctor Dr. Rehman also notes that if moving the wrist and thumb area increases pain, the wrist may be broken.
Other indicators of a child’s broken wrist include the impact/injury being followed by bruising and swelling of the affected area. If you suspect that your child has broken their wrist, it’s essential to act quickly and seek medical attention to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of a Child’s Broken Wrist
A child’s broken wrist can result in their range of motion decreasing, marked by the movement of their wrist being limited in some way.
Gripping or grasping objects may also be difficult or painful for a child’s broken wrist. If this symptom persists for longer than one or two days, visit a hand doctor like board certified hand specialist Dr. Rehman, located in the Macomb County area.
First Steps for a Child’s Broken Wrist
In the event of a suspected broken wrist, it’s important to take immediate steps to provide comfort and support to your child while awaiting medical evaluation. Begin by immobilizing the injured wrist using a splint or makeshift brace to prevent further movement and minimize pain. Applying ice to the injured area can help reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort.
If the injury that caused your child’s broken list occurred at school or during an extracurricular activity, a coach or trainer may be capable of wrapping the injured area. This will immobilize the potentially broken wrist until it can be evaluated by an expert like Macomb County hand doctor Dr. Rehman.
It’s also advisable to elevate the affected arm above heart level to further reduce swelling and promote circulation. Additionally, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be administered to help manage pain and inflammation. However, it’s crucial to avoid giving aspirin to children as it can increase the risk of bleeding.
Once these initial steps have been taken, promptly seek medical attention as soon as possible from a qualified healthcare professional, such as those at Macomb Hand Surgery in Macomb County, for further evaluation and treatment. Our team of experienced hand surgeons will provide comprehensive care to ensure the best possible outcome for your child’s wrist injury.
Diagnosing a Child’s Broken Wrist
The only 100% certain way to diagnose a child’s broken wrist is through the use of diagnostic imaging. This can include a CT scan, an X-ray, or an MRI.
Severe, life-long consequences can result from leaving a child’s broken wrist untreated. Without immediate care, what began as a child’s broken wrist can lead to instability, pain, and loss of motion in the wrist that never fully goes away. Consequently, even the slightest suspicion of a child’s broken wrist has occurred should be met with immediate medical attention.
Treating a Child’s Broken Wrist
In addition to immediate first aid measures, the treatment of a child’s broken wrist typically involves immobilization, pain management, and physical therapy to accelerate healing, reduce pain, and preserve mobility. Depending on the severity of the fracture, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend a cast or splint to immobilize the wrist and promote proper alignment of the bones during the healing process.
It’s important to follow your had doctor’s instructions regarding the duration of immobilization and care of the cast or splint to ensure optimal healing. Pain management may involve over-the-counter or prescription medications to alleviate discomfort and improve your child’s comfort level. Physical therapy exercises and rehabilitation may also be prescribed to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion to the injured wrist once it has healed sufficiently.
Macomb County hand doctor Dr. Rehman will determine the best treatment plan possible for your child’s broken wrist. This may include allowing the wrist to heal by setting it in a cast, a process that can take from four to six weeks. If your child’s broken wrist is more severe, however, Dr. Rehman may recommend surgery.
Child’s Broken Wrist Doctor – Macomb County
At Macomb Hand Surgery in Macomb County, our team of skilled hand surgeons and therapists is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to pediatric patients with broken wrists, helping them recover fully and return to their normal activities as quickly and safely as possible.
Contact Macomb County children’s hand doctor Dr. Rehman if your child is experiencing pain in their wrist, elbow, arm, or fingers. Symptoms like these can all point to a child’s broken wrist – the possibility of which warrants a comprehensive evaluation.
Untreated, a child’s broken wrist can sentence them to a lifetime of complications. Spare your child from future pain and frustration, and call us today. Doctor Rehman will assess your child’s injury with kindness and compassion, and offer the state-of-the-art treatments that are best for their wrist injury.
