Broken arm and anesthesia

[christinou]

My 9 year old daugher Em, broke her arm riding her horse yesterday, we were told today that her arm needs to be reset and that they want to put her under general anesthesia. That really scares me, does anyone have any experience with broken bones and resetting them?
I could also use some help about what to do to protect her cast so that she can go swimming....
Thanks for the good thought we both can use them, she will have the procedure tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

I recall someone else on the boards going through something similar with their child.

hopefully they'll see this.

 

[antkim]

No experience with resetting bones but my friends little boy just had a cast on not too long ago and apparently the new casts are waterproof-he could take baths and everything with it on.

Kim

 

[RNMOM]

They would need to give her an anesthetic in order to relax the muscles so they can put the bone in proper alignment. It will probably be a quick proceedure and very short anesthetic. Ask the doctor to explain it better for you...the anesthetist will explain before taking her back to the O.R. too.

 

[cheyita]

OK - my 8yo DD broke her forearm last August (was 7 at the time).

Gosh, I wish they would have put her under general anesthesia. They gave her Dilautid (sp?) and morphine, but I would have preferred she was out completely.

There are these inflatable sleeves you put over the arm and pump up to seal out all air for swimming purposes, but we just kept her out of the pools because our orthopedist was against us attempting swimming.

Good luck - I know it's hard to watch your child go through this. If you have more questions - pm me.

 

[my3kids]

The fiberglass casts that are generally used are waterproof, but they are only really okay in the water if you specify a Gortex liner. If the fiberglass has the traditional cotten lining, it wouldn't hurt the cast to splah it on the outside, but it couldn't be submerged. With a Gortex liner, they can swim without worry or covering the cast.

 

[Blondie]

I broke my Radius Ulna (wrist) back when I was about 12 y.o. and back then, (the "olden days") they didn't place patients under general anesthesia to re-set bones.

Two doctors were present, one held one part of my arm, and another did the "realigning!" I heard a crack and that was it. I was in a temporary cast for a week that went to my shoulder, then a plaster cast for 4 more weeks, that one went up to my shoulder as well! After that cast came off, I was in a cast that just went to my elbow for an additional 2 weeks! Yikes!

Your little one will be fine! Sending best wishes for quick healing!

 

[dizny4us]

I don't have any advice but I wanted to just send good wishes your way....it is so hard to see our little ones hurting!

 

[christinou]

Thanks everyone, we have to be in the hospital at 10:15 this morning.....