Does Your Child Have a Forearm Fracture?
It’s natural for parents to worry about their kids’ safety, and many times that worry is based in reality – children are rambunctious and are prone to injury. Whether it be from a sports injury or perhaps a car accident, some of us have experienced the anxiety that comes along with discovering our child may have suffered a bone fracture.
Car Crashes and Traumatic Injuries
One type of traumatic injury that kids can experience during a car accident is a forearm fracture. This type of bone fracture affects the bones of the arm below the elbow but above the wrist. It’s important to understand forearm fractures so you can look for symptoms after an accident and know if your child has one.
How Do Forearm Fractures Occur?
Forearm fractures can occur if your child falls on his or her outstretched arm, falls directly on the forearm, or receives a heavy blow to the forearm. A fracture is a break in the bone that can happen at any part of the forearm – closer to the wrist, in the middle, or closer to the elbow. A forearm fracture can occur in any of the two bones in your child’s forearm: the radius, which connects the elbow to the wrist above the thumb, and the ulna, which connects the elbow to the wrist above the pinky finger.
What Are the Different Types of Forearm Fractures?
There are several types of forearm fractures that can occur after a car accident specifically. In an open (or compound) fracture, the broken bone pierces the skin, while in a closed fracture it does not. An open fracture may appear scary due to the bone protrusion, but it is definitely still treatable. A displaced fracture occurs when the fragments of bone do not align at the site of the break, while a stable fracture means that the bones have stayed in place after the break. A comminuted fracture involves the bone breaking into several pieces.
What Are the Different Symptoms of Forearm Fractures?
There are several symptoms that might indicate that your child has a forearm fracture, with the main one being severe pain in that area of the body. Conversely, your child may also feel numbness, which would indicate a nerve injury. Also, you may notice that your child’s forearm appears bent or oddly shaped, which would indicate a displaced fracture, while there may also be some swelling.
Have Your Child Examined by a Physician Right Away
If you notice any of these signs following an accident, call a doctor so you can get started on treatment before the bone begins to set. Your doctor will likely want to see your child and perform a physical exam. The doctor will ask a lot of questions about how the accident occurred (how the accident occurred or what they were doing will help your doctor make a diagnosis), so make sure to ask questions if you were not present and did not witness the event.
Your doctor will examine your child and may ask them questions about where it hurts and make sure that they can move all of the fingers and ensure they can still feel normally. Finally the doctor will likely get some x-rays to confirm the broken bone.
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Placerville Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Placerville car accident lawyer. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in car crash, please call me anytime at (530) 392-9400 for free, friendy advice. Or, call me toll free at (800) 404-5400 if you are calling outside of the Placerville region.
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