fractured arm - cast advice required

[Kez250]

My 4 yo has fractured his arm - and we now have a bright orange cast to prove it - for a minimum of 4 weeks

I've never been in this position before and am looking for advice from people who have been.

So far we used a latex glove to cover the cast hand while eating - the fracture is on his right arm which also happens to be his predominant one - i just can't imagine the germs after 4 weeks so am trying to keep it as clean as possible - bath time tonight we used a plastic bag and a rubber band and then some waterproof tape to keep it tight to his arm.

These are things I've come up with so far - the cast was only put on yesterday so I am looking for ideas and experiences to help us through the next 4 weeks. Also as an aside he is scheduled to get the cast off 3 days before we go to WDW - is there anything we should do to protect his arm while he is there as I am assuming it will be quite weak from the inactivity.

Thanks in advance

Kerry

 

[Kae]

We went to a home health care store & got a cover for when taking baths & it was summer so he wanted to swim-we let him hand on the steps My DS was for also, luckily he broke his left one & he is a righty. And I just wiped his fingers wipe those Anti Bac wipes from Bath & Body works. Boy it got dirty around the edges but I had to get over it

Kae

 

[LoriLea]

Both my DD8 (then 6) and DS10 (then 9) have broken their arms in the summer months! (So have DH and myself for that matter!).

We covered their casts with plastic bags at waterparks and hotel pools and never had a problem. I overheard someone telling a friend of mine that they have waterproof casts which cost extra but were worth it!

My DD's cast was above her elbow but she managed to keep herself clean. My DS had a short cast but it covered more of his hand. He continued to ride his bike, play with his friends etc. It was absolutely filthy. I had to really scrub his protruding fingers to get them clean.

As for weakness after the cast comes off, it is amazing how quickly they are back to normal. Both of my kids had swimming lessons the day they got their casts off and I asked the doctor and he said that they would be fine. DD had dance classes a couple of days later and again, she was fine. She had worn her cast for 8 weeks - nasty break!

Just ask your doctor what he/she thinks as far as any limitations following the removal of the cast.

Good luck!

 

[momsully]

DS4 broke his arm in June of 2004. Definately pay for the waterproof cast, you will be glad you did. DS was able to swim, take showers, etc with no problems. You had to be careful not to get soap down the cast but otherwise no problems.

Our local emergency room will not do the waterproof cast. We had to have it put on by an orthopedist. It cost about $70 but as I said it was well worth the money!

 

[barkley]

def. check with the doctor or orthopod. re. recovery post cast. our pediatric orthopedic surgeon told us that even a "simple break" can require care/caution for several months following. with kids (depending on the age/growth potential for the affected limb) some go from cast to brace to sling.

 

[HaleyB]

Was it a simple fracture? Did they use the word 'hairline' to discribe it? Was it near any growth plates? My son is one of those kids that breaks bones. Healing time can really vary, so that at least 4 weeks could turn into 8 weeks...

We think extra calcium helps. Might be our imaginations, but it will not hurt.

Make sure the doctor knows you are going on vacation. They may want to give him a brace if he is without a cast when you go. Demand they take an x-ray after the cast comes off. The first time my son broke his leg they just took the cask off after 4 weeks. He didn't seem to be bothered by standing on it, so they sent him home. Turns out he still needed to be in a cast. I felt horrible for not going with my gut feeling when they decided not to x-ray him. I will never make that mistake again.

My sons was filthy by the time 4 weeks went by when it was his right arm. Yuck. Sorry, I think that is just how it goes with right hand casts on boys

 

[imageid]

My dd broke her arm in 2 places last summer. We used "Drycast" for shower's etc. You can call 1-888-drycast or drycast online they ship fast and it worked great. She had a cast for 8 weeks and broke it again, another cast for 6 weeks !

 

[debster812]

DS4 broke his arm in June of 2004. Definately pay for the waterproof cast, you will be glad you did. DS was able to swim, take showers, etc with no problems. You had to be careful not to get soap down the cast but otherwise no problems.

Our local emergency room will not do the waterproof cast. We had to have it put on by an orthopedist. It cost about $70 but as I said it was well worth the money!

ITA with this. DS fractured his wrist last Sept. We had it splinted in the ER, and got the referral to the ortho for the next day. We got a bright blue totally waterproof cast. 2 days after casting, DS spent about 6 hours swimming in the ocean off my parent's boat. WORTH EVERY PENNY. And as far as the soap, we were able to use the clear-ish Nutrogena bar with no problems.

To the OP--as far as post-removal activity, our ortho orignally said to wait one week, but DS had a soccer game 4 days after the cast came off, and our doctor gave him the green light to play. It's amazing how quickly kids heal.

Good luck

 

[stacy6552]

Our son was in a lower body cast over his second birthday. He wasn't potty trained. The diaper situation got better over time as we got more room in the cast for diapers.

All I can susgest is baby powder. It worked wonders. And time helps, because he'll get some wiggle room making it easier to get antibacterial gels and sprays on it.

The bone will probably be stronger than it was before so dont worry about protecting it. If anything, his range of motion in his wrist will be uncomfortable. Soak it in a warm bath as soon as you get home from taking it off. Take asprin with you on your trip.

 

[Kez250]

Thanks for all the advice - I had no idea that you could get a waterproof cast and the ortho didn't mention it to us - it's too late now - but next time I will know.

He has something called a 'buckle' fracture which is apparently fairly common in children his age but it is on the growth plate. The Ortho did say that when he cuts the cast off on March 9th they will do another x-ray just to make sure that it's all healed properly

Best case it'll all be healed and we'll just have to watch him closely and worst case we'll get a new cast to go to WDW with that we can get buzz, mickey etc to sign

 

[ellenmiele]

Re: characters signing casts --

My DH had his leg in a cast on our last trip to WDW and at that time it seems that WDW policy is that characters DO NOT sign casts. We did however have other CMs sign it (at the gate, a waiter, etc.). I'm not sure if it's a different situation with a child but if your ds does end up going to WDW with the cast I wouldn't him to be disappointed if the characters won't sign it.

 

[melk]

I recommend going to xerosox.com if you want something that is really waterproof. We used this over my dd's wrist cast when we went to WDW. She swam every day in it and it never got even a drop of water on it.

Also they gave her a removable splint with velcro straps to wear after the cast came off. I think she had to wear it for a few weeks and I would have her put it on for gym, ice skating, things like that, for a couple of months.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

This thread is really interesting to me because my DD tripped and fell on Tuesday night and injured her right arm. Our three hours spent in the emergency room concluded with a splint and orders to come back in a week for a follow-up X-ray. If I understood the doctor correctly, he said he had a gut feeling that there was a break but that is was under a growth plate and would not show up on the original X-ray. He felt it would show up on the next one.

I have a feeling it may have just been a sprain as it's only been four days and she doesn't seem to be in very much pain or discomfort. I am hoping our next visit will confirm there is no need for the splint or a cast. Please your fingers crossed for us.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

Last Summer, we took my 10 year old niece to Dollywood with a cast on her arm. She rode all the rides but could not swim because they did not get a swimmers cast on. It was near the end of having to wear it and it did look well worn. Also being the hot Summer it got sweaty inside. She washed around it as best as possible but there really was not much to do. After she got it off she was climbing trees and back on horses. By the way she broke it falling off of a horse.

 

[Kez250]

ellenmiele - thanks for letting me know that - if he does end up having a cast while we are there - I won't even mention about the signing and if they do great if not then he won't be upset about it - i guess those poor guys have trouble enough signing paper with their big hands let alone a bumpy cast

Melk - that is an awesome website - i think I'll be ordering soon - tonight he was in the bath with the bag over his arm and he was saying - mum this is no fun - i don't want to have a bath when i can't lay in the water - and we have another 3.5 weeks to go