What are the signs and symptoms of a broken bone?
Possible signs and symptoms of a broken bone are:
- A snapping or grinding noise during an injury, fall, collision, etc.
- Swelling, bruising and tenderness of the injured area
- The injured body part is difficult to move or hurts when moved, touched, or bearing weight
- The injured part looks deformed. In severe breaks, the broken bone might poke through the skin.
What should I do if I think my child has a broken bone?
- Seek immediate medical attention.
- Keep the injured body part in the position you found it (moving around can make it worse).
- Put a splint on the extremity (arm, leg, etc.) in order to protect it and prevent further motion.
- Apply an ice pack wrapped in cloth.
- Do not allow your child to eat in case surgery is required.