Accompanying symptoms of bone fracture in the baby

Accompanying symptoms of bone fractures can of course be pain. These can occur with varying intensity depending on the type and location of the fracture. Sometimes children have almost no pain at all.

In addition, as already mentioned above, the affected body parts are more often observed to be in relieving postures. This means that the babies’ arms, for example, no longer move synchronously, but that an asymmetry in the movement sequences occurs. This also means that reflexes can no longer be executed in the same direction.

Swelling, overheating and redness are further symptoms of the non-bacterial inflammation accompanying the fracture. This is important for initiating bone healing. In the case of so-called greenwood fractures, pain is usually the only sign of a fracture (if no X-ray examination is performed).

However, the type and intensity of the pain always depends on the type of fracture and its location. In addition, each individual pain feels somewhat different. Therefore it is difficult to concretize the subject of pain.

Some people complain of stabbing pain, others of dull pain. Still others have almost no pain at all. Fortunately, one can say that the bone healing processes in children are much more dynamic.

Also the types of most bone fractures in babies/children are grateful for fast healing processes, so that an extensive therapy with surgery and a long regeneration phase is usually not necessary. Collarbone fractures (if not dislocated) in babies as a result of birth trauma, for example, are often only observed and not actively treated. It is sufficient to dress the children carefully and not to put excessive strain on the affected shoulder for a certain period of time.

Greenwood fractures on arms and legs, for example, are usually only cast for a few weeks and can often be fully moved and loaded again after only about 2 weeks. An operation is, fortunately, rarely necessary. This is always the case when fractures would not heal properly without correction.If an operation is necessary, there are nowadays child-friendly “nails” and “plates” that are suitable for bringing bones back into position properly so that bone healing processes can close the fracture site again.

However, the disadvantages are always that surgery is associated with complications and risks (anesthesia, etc.) and that material that has been inserted (nails, plates, etc.) must be removed again (nails and plates do not grow with the patient). Experience shows, however, that even if surgery is necessary, the children/babies survive it very well in most cases.