Treat Fracture: Types of Fractures and First Aid

Closed and open fracture

When it comes to bone fractures, a distinction is made between open and closed fractures. But what are the actual signs of a fracture?

• An open fracture shows  a wound in the fracture area, such as a protruding bone.
• In a closed fracture  , the skin around the fracture remains intact. Closed fractures are not always easy to recognize and are often only associated with slight pain. Children with a broken wrist or collarbone, for example, often continue playing after a short time. To be on the safe side, you should have your child x-rayed if you suspect a fracture. This is the only way to diagnose a broken or cracked bone with certainty.

What to do if you suspect a fracture?

If your child is suspected of breaking a bone, it is important that you lay it still and do not move it unnecessarily. However, if your child is in a place where their life is in danger, they must be taken out of the danger zone immediately. Further action now depends on whether it is a closed or open fracture:

• In the case of an open fracture , the wound must be covered with a bandage immediately. There is a risk of infection here. In addition, an open hernia should be immobilized with blankets or pillows. If shock is suspected, your child must be placed in the shock position (if a leg is broken, you should refrain from putting your feet up).
• Swelling is often seen in a closed fracture  . Here, too, you should pad the breaking point and rest it calmly. You can also cool the affected area to relieve the pain.
• In any case, you should call the emergency services . In the hospital, the severity of the fracture is finally determined by means of an X-ray and further therapy is discussed.

Definite signs of fracture

Bone fractures cause pain in most cases and are often clearly visible. This is either due to swelling, protruding bones or an unnatural position of the limbs, a so-called displaced fracture. You can find tips on how to help your child with pain in our article “4 rules: Helping children with pain”.

broken leg

Broken legs, such as a broken fibula, should be immobilized after the emergency services have been alerted. Blankets, pillows or clothing are very suitable for this. Further measures are not necessary and should also be avoided, otherwise your child would suffer unnecessary pain.

broken arm

If the arm is broken or the wrist is fractured, the arm must be fixed to the body with clothing or similar material at an angle. The fixation works best with a triangular cloth :

• First you attach a wound dressing to the open fracture (not necessary for a closed fracture).
• You can place the injured arm in a thick newspaper or magazine to stabilize it.
• Then place one end of the cloth around your neck and carefully guide the other end under your injured arm. The tip must point towards the elbow. The lower end is pulled under the forearm to the intact shoulder and tied to the upper end in a knot.
• Now you can insert the tip of the cloth at the end of the elbow.

broken rib

A fall or an accident can break one or more ribs. Such a broken bone is usually noticeable by pain in the chest area, especially when breathing in. If you break a rib, all you can do is call the emergency services. Make sure that your child does not move, because if you break a rib, wrong movements can possibly damage internal organs through the broken rib. X-rays are taken at the hospital to determine whether there are any other injuries.

Fracture Healing: Healing time of a broken bone

How long a broken bone takes to heal can vary greatly. It also plays a role which bone is affected. For example, the little toe bone can heal in a few weeks, while the thigh bone can take 10 to 14 weeks to heal. However, if the right therapy is carried out, often even conservative treatment without surgery, fractures usually heal without any problems and, above all, without long-term effects.

If there is an open fracture or other organs have been injured, it may take longer to heal. Serious complications can also occur, such as blood poisoning. In the worst case, an infected fracture could mean amputation of the affected body part. But we don’t want to scare you under any circumstances: open fractures with subsequent blood poisoning are rare in children.

Otherwise, as in all emergencies, keep calm and talk to your child calmly. By the way, we have summarized everything on the subject of “first aid for children” here .