Therapy

Therapy for a child’s forearm fracture–spoke fracture is similar to that for fractures in adults. However, the bones of a child have the ability to develop even further than the mature human skeleton. For this reason, such forearm fractures with slight malpositions in childhood may well “grow together”, as the vernacular says.

As a rule, the therapy is performed conservatively by immobilization in a plaster cast. The plaster cast should be worn for 3 – 4 weeks. Thanks to the high growth potential of the affected region, spontaneous healing of the bone rarely causes problems.

If necessary, a repeated X-ray can be scheduled for a follow-up check. However, this is decided by the doctor on an individual basis. However, the form of therapy to be pursued must always be decided individually.

Especially in the case of displaced fractures or injury to vessels and nerves, the fracture must often be treated surgically. If the bone needs to be repositioned, i.e. returned to its original state, this should be done under anesthesia. A reduction is painful and requires the child to be kept still.

If necessary, the corrected position of the bones may not hold by itself. In these cases, additional nails, screws and plates can be used to provide additional stability. Afterwards, healing usually proceeds without external influence.

Support can be provided by homeopathy.A fracture of the forearm in children cannot always be treated with a plaster cast. In certain cases it is useful to choose an option of surgical treatment so that the bone heals optimally and no growth disturbance of the bone occurs in the course of the operation. It should be noted that there is a wide range of different surgical therapies, from very complex procedures to minimally invasive techniques.

In addition to the type and location of the fracture, the age, weight and size of the child also play a major role in the choice of therapy. In general, however, in the case of an unstable fracture, a surgical procedure is generally advisable to fix the bone in its natural position. Even if it is an open fracture (i.e. the bone protrudes from the skin), surgery is still necessary.

If the fracture lies within the growth plate, the type of fracture and the position of the bones determine whether surgical therapy is necessary. Based on the X-rays and a physical examination, the treating physician can assess which treatment method is most appropriate in the individual case and make a recommendation. This topic might also be of interest to you: X-ray examination of a child