Fact Checked
A broken arm is a crack or break in one or more of the bones in the arms. It can be caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, trauma from a vehicular accidents or a sports injury.
Causes of a broken arm in children
- Falling from an outstretched hand and the fracture can involve the wrist up to the shoulder which depends on the direction of the fall, age of the child and stress placed to the bone.
- Direct trauma can be a direct blow from an object such as a bat, trauma from vehicular accidents or other accidents where a strong force is placed on the arm
Severe pain that becomes worse when moving the arm
Symptoms
- Deformity of the affected arm
- Severe pain that becomes worse when moving the arm
- Swelling
- A possibility of an open wound either the skin is punctured by bone or the skin is cut during an injury.
- Reduced sensation or inability in moving the limb which indicates damage on the nerve.
Treatment
- Avoid making the affected arm straight. If a bone protrudes through the skin, avoid touching it. Cover it using gauze or a clean diaper and apply pressure to lessen the bleeding and seek emergency help.
- Place padding around the affected arm prevent unnecessary movements. Place a splint on the wrapped arm using a ruler, magazine or a newspaper to prevent movement of the affected arm. Wrap it with a cloth or a tape around the splint to hold them together. Avoid wrapping it too tightly to prevent the flow of blood in the area.
- Apply an ice pack on the affected arm for at least 15-20 minutes every hour as needed. Avoid placing the pack directly on the skin to prevent frostbite. The cold lessens the pain and swelling.
- Elevate the affected arm above the level of the heart as often as possible to lessen the swelling and pain. Another option is to place the arm on several pillows to keep it elevated comfortably.
- Allow the affected arm to get enough rest as possible. Avoid placing pressure on the arm or lifting heavy objects.
- Seek the help of a physical therapist for some rehabilitation exercises to improve movement and strength as well as lessen the pain.
Disclaimer
The material posted on this page on broken arm among children is for learning purposes only. If you want to learn to properly manage fractures including a broken arm, register for a first aid course with a training provider near you.
FACT CHECK
https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/spot-child-broken-bones#1
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/b-bone.html
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/forearm-fractures-in-children/