Essay On Greenstick Fracture

Greenstick Fracture, Child

A greenstick fracture is a partial break in a bone. With this type of fracture, one side of the bone is broken and the other is bent. Greenstick fractures are more common in children than adults because adult bones are more brittle and more likely to break all the way through.

CAUSES

Fractures occur when a force is placed on a bone and the force is greater than the bone can withstand. A greenstick fracture is most often caused by:

A fall onto an arm or leg.

A direct blow to the arm or leg.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe. They include:

Tenderness.

Pain.

Swelling.

Deformity.

Difficulty moving or rotating the injured area.

DIAGNOSIS

To make

a diagnosis, your child's health care provider will do a physical exam and take X-rays.
TREATMENT

Your child's health care provider may need to put the bone in its normal position.

He or she may break the bone all the way through to make putting it in its normal position easier. Once the bone is in position a cast or splint will be applied to keep the bone in place. Your child may also receive medicine for pain.

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS

If possible, keep the injured area above the level of your child's heart when your child is sitting or lying down. Keeping the injured area elevated will decrease swelling and pain. Putting the injured arm or leg on a pillow may be helpful.

Apply ice to the injured area:

Put ice in a plastic bag.

Place a towel between your skin and the bag.

Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times per day for 2 days.

If your child has a plaster or fiberglass cast:

Keep the cast clean and dry.

Do not allow your child to put pressure on any part of the cast until it has completely hardened.

Do not allow your child to use sharp or pointed objects to try to scratch the skin under the cast.

Check the skin around the cast every day. You may put lotion on any red or sore areas.

Have your child gently move his or her fingers or toes outside of the cast throughout the day to prevent

stiffness.

Protect the cast with a plastic bag while your child is bathing. Do not allow your child to lower the cast into water.

If your child has a plaster or fiberglass splint:

Have your child wear the splint as directed.

You may loosen the wrap around the splint if your child's fingers become numb, tingle, or become cold or blue. Contact your child's health care provider if loosening the wrap does not improve these symptoms.

Give your child medicines only as directed by your child's health care provider.

Keep all follow-up visits as directed by the health care provider. This is important.

SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:

There is an increase in swelling in the hands or feet below the cast or if the cast feels too tight.

Your child has stinging or burning under the cast.

Your child's medicines do not control his or her pain.

Your child's cast gets damaged, soft, or breaks.

SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:

Your child develops severe pain or continues to have severe pain.

Your child's skin or nails below the injury turn blue or grey or feel cold or numb.

Your child is unable to move his or her fingers or toes below the injury.

There is a bad smell or drainage coming from under the cast.