Children get injured all of the time. They scrape their knees falling off of their bikes. They bruise their foreheads when they fall off of the jungle gym. Sometimes, they even break a bone, often in their arm or leg. Being able to identify a broken bone can help you help your child get the best care. Often it can be difficult to tell if they’ve broken something, or incurred another injury like a strain. Here are the telltale signs that your child has broken a bone:
Symptoms of a Broken Bone:
- Pain. When a child breaks a bone, they will experience pain. This pain is often much greater than the pain caused by other injuries.
- Swelling and bruising. Swelling and bruising around the affected area is another telltale sign of a broken bone.
- Deformity. If your child is hurt and the affected area looks deformed in a way it didn’t before, it could be because of a broken bone.
- Loss of mobility. Often, when something breaks, it causes a loss of mobility. If your child breaks their foot, they may not be able to walk on it because of the pain.
Some other injuries could have symptoms similar to these, but if your child experiences some or all of these, then get them to an emergency room as soon as possible. If you suspect it’s something less severe, urgent care may be a good resource. Many urgent care facilities are equipped with x-ray machines and other equipment that can help identify a broken bone. Even if they did not actually break a bone, it is better to be safe than sorry. Depending on the type and severity of the break, the doctors in the ER may recommend different types of treatment. Make sure you take their recommendations, and follow them as closely as possible in order to ensure your child recovers as soon as possible.
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