Children can be active by engaging in high-impact activities that put them at risk of breaking their bones. For this reason, worried parents seek pediatric Venice medical interventions for fractures in their children to restore mobility. A fracture is a medical condition that involves partial or complete broken bones in the body. Pediatric fractures happen in children and may be of two types:
- Open fracture: These types of fractures involve bone exposed through the skin. Another name for open fractures is compound fractures, which require emergency care to ensure the infection does not develop in the resulting deep wound.
- Closed fracture: These fractures happen underneath the skin because there is no wound on the skin to expose the broken bone.
What is the cause of broken fractures in children?
The leading cause of fractures is a force to the bone. Pressure on a bone can cause breakage during a traumatic event, especially if the force is more than the bone can handle. Children may sometimes perform complex movements that might twist the bones, making them weaker and more vulnerable to breakage. Another common cause of fractures in children is overusing a bone-like when performing a repeated activity.
What are the symptoms of fractures in children?
Most of the time, children exhibit symptoms of fractures. It is essential to recognize the following signs and get your child to your primary care provider for emergency intervention:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Deformity
- Redness
- Bruising
- Difficulty moving the bone
How do physicians diagnose pediatric fractures?
One of the main reasons to seek emergency medical intervention is to receive an accurate diagnosis of your child’s condition. Although you may have already determined that your child has a broken bone, your primary care provider will determine the severity of your child’s condition and develop an objective approach to improved bone integrity.
The following are some of the steps a physician should make when diagnosing bone fractures in children:
- A comprehensive physical assessment of the bone by palpating to detect any swelling and moving the bone to see concerns.
- The physician will ask your child how the injury happened. It would be best for parents or guardians to explain the traumatic event if the child cannot communicate.
Imaging tests are necessary to help care providers view the bone from the inside to determine the cause of symptoms and thus appreciate the severity of pediatric fractures. The primary imaging tests physicians implement when diagnosing pediatric fractures include X-ray, MRI, and CT scans.
How do doctors treat pediatric fractures?
It is essential for primary care providers to correctly diagnose pediatric fractures before developing a treatment approach to understand concerns and thus develop a suitable wellness plan. The most common treatments for pediatric fractures include using a splint or cast, pain-relieving medications, traction, and surgery. Contact 360 Orthopedics if your child gets a fracture to learn about the various treatments available to help eliminate symptoms and restore function to your child’s bones.
