Why don't they put a cast on a broken wrist in the E.R? UPDATE Post 45, pg. 3

[rbuzzotta]

My middle DD fell and broke her wrist yesterday at her softball game. We went to the E. R and were told it is broken and she will need a cast. They told us to call an orthopedic on Monday to have a cast put on.

Today her wrist and hand is twice the size that it was when we were at the ER. We have kept ice on it and given her motrin every 4 hours. She is in quite a bit of pain!! My heart is breaking for her!!

We have to wait until I call an ortho tomorrow!! I asked at the ER why they couldn't cast her there and was told there was no pediatric orthopedic on duty!! I think that was an answer just to appease me!! My orthopedic does not specialize in pediatrics but does all ages!!!

I just feel so bad because she is in such pain and I am afraid they won't be abel to cast her tomorrow due to the swelling!!!

Anyone ever have this happen before??

 

[mommasita]

No, never..

Our children's hospital ALWAYS has a pediatric orthopedic on call. Can you go to a different hospital.. The pain must be incredible..

My second thought was, it may be due to the swelling? and not the Dr? When I broke my ankle I had to wait for the swelling to subside..Just a thought

Poor girl..I hope they cast it soon

 

[6TimeMomma]

I don't know the answer to that, but the same thing happened to a girl I work with. Her son broke his arm on Saturday and she had to wait until an apointment with the orthopedic doc on Monday before they casted it.

 

[mom2of2]

it's totally normal. My DS broke his wrist last January and we had to wait 5 days for the swelling to go down before they would cast it. I too thought it was ridiculous but that's the way they do it now.

Make sure to ask for a Gortex lined cast so that she can take showers and swim without a problem

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Happens quite often actually. Seems harsh, but it does happen.

At least this way, you will have an actual consult, diagnosed more thoroughly, and the ortho will take his time. Rather than a resident, or ortho being ticked about working the weekend, and rushing through it.

Good luck--I'm sure it will work out. Can you call her pediatrician, and get a script for stronger pain med. They can't call in a narcotic, to a pharmacy, but maybe something else.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thanks for the responses!! It wasn't too swollen at the ER but today it really is swollen!! I have to keep loosing up her ace/splint due to the swelling!!

I wish it were me and not her!!!

 

[mommasita]

Thanks for the responses!! It wasn't too swollen at the ER but today it really is swollen!! I have to keep loosing up her ace/splint due to the swelling!!

I wish it were me and not her!!!

Glad they did not cast it then, she would have to go through the whole process again..

I know the feeling too well of wishing it were me instead..It will get better soon

 

[janette]

My 12yo DD broke her foot on Wednesday, they put a splint on at urgent care but said to call the Orthopedic for an appointment in a couple of days. She has an appointment on Tuesday, when I called they said they wait until the swelling isn't as bad before casting so it would be best to wait a few days. The swelling & pain is better today, she was pretty miserable for a few days. So let your DD know it won't hurt so badly soon.

 

[MareQ]

Same thing happened with my DD when she broke her growth plate in her ankle when she was 4. ER said it's tough for them to read x-rays on little ones and it's always best to have an Orthepedic take a look and decide final treatment. We happened to have been on vacation at the time so it was all one big crazy whirlwind - but we got an appointment within 2 days with a Dr and he examined her - did another x-ray there - compared the two and put a cast on her.

It's tough with the littles ones but it's always best to go see somebody that specialized in this. ER Docs have to know a lot of things but they're not always the best person to have the final say on how an injury is treated - kwim?

 

[Boo'sMom]

Today her wrist and hand is twice the size that it was when we were at the ER. We have kept ice on it and given her motrin every 4 hours. She is in quite a bit of pain!! My heart is breaking for her!!

Anyone ever have this happen before??

exactly why they are having her wait.

Glad they did not cast it then, she would have to go through the whole process again..

I know the feeling too well of wishing it were me instead..It will get better soon

this is what happened to my son when he broke his arm. They set it right off, but the next day we were back in the ER to have them split the cast hindsight says we really should have waited.

 

[phorsenuf]

The reason they wait is because of the swelling. You don't want to get a cast put on and it continue to swell Not good. That happened to my brother and his foot turned blue! He had to go back to the er so they could cut it off.

 

[katerkat]

Yup, broke my ankle on Mother's Day (nine years ago today!) and they couldn't set it for almost 48 hours due to the swelling. They splinted it and gave me drugs.

 

[nrsldy]

The main reason a splint is applied is swelling. Most orthopedic docs I work with like to put thier own casts on after the swelling has gone down. If the fracture is displaced that is another story.
It is uncomfortable. Ice ,elevation and pain medication.
Good luck! I hope your DD gets to feeling better.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

My son broke his (wrist) last summer just below the growth plate. It was very swollen. We waited as well for it to be casted. In the meantime we put an ace name brand brace. You tightened it with velco straps. Gave him motrin more frequently than normal. The brace brought him much comfort because it wouldnt let him use it. It had a metal bar in it. We also used it when he got his cast off and was a little weak. I only paid about 20 dollars for it at walgreens. HTH. Hope she gets to felling better.

 

[marsha123]

my 12 year old broke his wrist 6 weeks ago on a friday.they would not cast it untill we saw ortho on monday .also by then the swelling was better. get a gortex liner .insurance would not pay for that but it was 20 dollars a roll and he only neededone so 20 bucks well spent! we went to typhoon lagoon twice at easter with that cast. he gets the cast off tommorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thank you all for the comforting responses!! Being an RN, I should have figured out about the swelling myself.................I guess when it comes to your own, all knowledge goes out the window!! At least it did with me!!

I just feel so bad (I know I have said that quite a bit in this thread). We are continually icing and giving motrin. I just spoke with my neighbor who works for an ortho practice. they have 2 doctors who specialize in the wrist/hand. Since it is broken at the growth plate, I will be calling that practice tomorrow!!

Thanks for all your well wishes!!! I appreciate it tremendously!!

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I just spoke with my neighbor who works for an ortho practice. they have 2 doctors who specialize in the wrist/hand. Since it is broken at the growth plate, I will be calling that practice tomorrow!!

Thanks for all your well wishes!!! I appreciate it tremendously!!

Oh good.--That should help, to know she will see someone good. Maybe your connections, can get you in quick.

Best of Luck

 

[WDWBarb]

My middle DD fell and broke her wrist yesterday at her softball game. We went to the E. R and were told it is broken and she will need a cast. They told us to call an orthopedic on Monday to have a cast put on.

Today her wrist and hand is twice the size that it was when we were at the ER. We have kept ice on it and given her motrin every 4 hours. She is in quite a bit of pain!! My heart is breaking for her!!

We have to wait until I call an ortho tomorrow!! I asked at the ER why they couldn't cast her there and was told there was no pediatric orthopedic on duty!! I think that was an answer just to appease me!! My orthopedic does not specialize in pediatrics but does all ages!!!

I just feel so bad because she is in such pain and I am afraid they won't be abel to cast her tomorrow due to the swelling!!!

Anyone ever have this happen before??

I broke my wrist 3.5 years ago... They did put a cast on it in the ER but it was only after 10 hours of waiting (they didn't want to wake the Dr. - go figure). The cast only served to support my wrist until I could see the Ortho surgeon 3 days later. I broke mine very badly and, of course, I was in my early 30's (adults take longer to heal). It equated to surgery for me.

I know that kids heal very quickly and they don't want to cast it until the Ortho can have a look and make sure they are doing it correctly. I'm so sorry that she's in such pain; I remember it well. I didn't have any swelling at all when I broke mine. Tell her to hang in there!!

 

[debbi801]

My middle DD fell and broke her wrist yesterday at her softball game. We went to the E. R and were told it is broken and she will need a cast. They told us to call an orthopedic on Monday to have a cast put on.

Today her wrist and hand is twice the size that it was when we were at the ER. We have kept ice on it and given her motrin every 4 hours. She is in quite a bit of pain!! My heart is breaking for her!!

We have to wait until I call an ortho tomorrow!! I asked at the ER why they couldn't cast her there and was told there was no pediatric orthopedic on duty!! I think that was an answer just to appease me!! My orthopedic does not specialize in pediatrics but does all ages!!!

I just feel so bad because she is in such pain and I am afraid they won't be abel to cast her tomorrow due to the swelling!!!

Anyone ever have this happen before??

When my DS was 6, he fell and broke his wrist. The pediatric ortho. would not cast it for a week specifically due to the swelling. They said the swelling needed to subside before it could be safely cast. The doctor put a soft splint on it for a week and then we had to go back to have it cast.

I hope she feells better soon.

 

[pumba]

our grandson broke his finger and they could not cast it either.......they wait a few days for swelling to increase then decrease......he was in pain and then when he went to the orthopedic surgeon ......they decided to operate on it and put a pin in.....he has a cast on two fingers and up to his elbow.....they do not do anything at the hospital here in Maine either.......they ship them out to orthos offices and then decide