Wrist Fracture In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A wrist fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in your child's wrist.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: Your child may be given medicine to decrease or take away pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you give your child pain medicine.
  
  
• Give your child's medicine as directed: Call your child's primary healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not helping or if he has side effects. Tell your child's primary healthcare provider if your child takes any vitamins, herbs, or other medicines. Keep a list of the medicines he takes. Include the amounts, and when and why he takes them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits.
  
  
• Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he takes aspirin when he is sick. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin, salicylates, or oil of wintergreen.

Put ice on your child's wrist as directed:

Ice helps decrease swelling, pain, and redness. Put crushed ice in a plastic bag and wrap it with a towel. Place the ice bag on your child's wrist, over the splint or cast, for 15 to 20 minutes every hour. Do this for as many days as directed.

How to bathe with a cast or splint:

Before your child takes a bath or shower, cover the cast or splint with a plastic bag. Tape the bag to the skin above your child's cast or splint to keep out water. Have your child hold his arm away from the water in case the bag leaks. It is important not to get the cast or splint wet.

Care for your child's arm:

• Check the skin around your child's cast or splint daily for any redness or open areas.
  
  
• Do not use a sharp or pointed object to scratch the skin under the cast or splint.
  
  
• If your child's splint is too tight, his fingers may be numb or tingle. Gently loosen the fasteners as directed to relieve the tightness.
  
  
• Tell your child not to push down or lean on any part of the cast or splint, because it may break.

Physical therapy:

Your child may need physical therapy. A physical therapist will help him with special exercises. These exercises will help make your child's bones and muscles stronger.

Follow up with your child's primary healthcare provider or bone specialist as directed:

Write down any questions you have so you remember to ask them in your follow-up visits.

Contact your child's primary healthcare provider or bone specialist if:

• Your child has a fever.
  
  
• There is a bad smell coming from under your child's cast.
  
  
• Your child has more pain or swelling than he did before the cast or splint was put on.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your child's injury, treatment, or care.

Return to the emergency department if:

• Your child has increased pain that is not getting better.
  
  
• Your child's cast breaks or is damaged.
  
  
• Your child's arm or hand feels numb.
  
  
• Your child's fingers on the injured wrist turn blue or white, or they are cold or numb.
  
  
• Your child's splint or cast is too tight.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Wrist Fracture In Children (Aftercare Instructions)