Identifying and Treating Neglected Fracture in Kids

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, “Fractures are common injuries in childhood. While most fractures are caused by accidental trauma, inflicted trauma (maltreatment) is a serious and potentially unrecognized cause of fractures, particularly in infants and young children.”

Fractures in children occur when excessive force is applied to the bone. As the bone cannot absorb excessive force, broken bones or fractures occur. Excessive force can cause multiple fractures or specific fractures like wrist fracture, elbow fracture, or femur fracture.

Also, fractures in kids occur due to a variety of reasons – trauma, falls, direct hit, injuries, and lack of calcium. You cannot control or change the causes and number of fractures in your child. But you must treat the neglected factors early and properly to keep your child fit by eliminating the chances of functional disability and permanent deformity.

What Should You Know to Treat a Neglected Fracture in Your Child Successfully?

Symptoms

A neglected fracture might occur in your child due to a variety of reasons. Also, the symptoms of neglected broken bones vary from one child to another. You can identify neglected fractures based on common systems like pain, swelling, bruising, redness, and warmth. Also, the affected area sometimes appears deformed due to the broken bone. It is always important to consult a pediatric orthopedic surgeon once your child finds it difficult to use or move the injured bone normally and naturally.

Diagnosis

Experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeons diagnose neglected fractures in a variety of ways. They always start diagnosing by inspecting the affected area closely and physically. The physical inspection, along with the child’s medical history, helps experienced orthopedic surgeons to identify the condition and causes of the fracture. However, it is also common for orthopedic surgeons to identify the cause of broken bones by recommending X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and similar imaging examinations.

Treatment Options

The orthopedic surgeons diagnose neglected fractures in a variety of ways according to the severity and symptoms of the broken bone. Also, they prepare a personalized treatment plan for the neglected fracture based on your child’s age, medical history, and severity of the fracture. Also, they keep in mind your child’s capacity to tolerate specific medication or treatment options.

Experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeons always start treating neglected fractures through non-surgical procedures like medication, cast/splint, and traction. But they treat neglected fractures surgically when the non-medical procedures do not work. They perform surgeries to reposition the broken bones or implant fixation devices.

Recovery

The non-medical procedures treat neglected fractures gradually over a period of time. Your child will become fit and active after taking medication or wearing the cast/splint regularly for a specific duration. However, you must get the affected area inspected by the orthopedic surgeon regularly according to the treatment plan. On the other hand, your child needs to rest the affected bone completely and follow operation-care recommended by the surgeon when the neglected fracture is treated surgically.

You can easily get a neglected fracture in your child diagnosed accurately and treated effectively by consulting an experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeon. The orthopedic surgeons will help you to eliminate the risk of functional disability and permanent deformity by treating neglected fractures accurately and successfully.