6yr old with broken radius - physio?

[cheeky_chops]

My son fell or more likely(!) jumped off the sofa and broke his arm about 3 weeks ago. Xrays showed a a slight radius break thru the growth plate. He had the cast off after 2 weeks, that was 7 days ago and has a app to go back in 2 weeks time.

He has been wearing the sling for the last week and i am concerned about the lack of movement he has esp from the elbow. He is also avoiding using it. He got given 1 exercise to squeeze his fist.

Any experience on next steps/timeframe or what will happen at the next appointment? Physio? I didnt go to the fracture clinic so all the info is 2nd hand or not asked. Just abit concerned and sorry for him as he is walking around with this dead appendage of a right arm

CC

[MentalSarcasm]

I broke my radius when I was 11, had a cast on for 6 weeks but only in a sling for 1 week, once it was healed and the cast was off that was it, no need for physio or anything else. I was a little nervous about using my arm as the break had been painful (and had been left over night as the first aider I saw diagnosed it as a sprain, not a break) but after a few days I realised it wasn't going to hurt any more and all was fine.

He's young and it sounds like he's healing pretty quickly, once he's got the sling off he'll be back to normal. If he needs anything it may just be some psychological reassurance from you and his Mum that his arm will be perfectly fine, it won't hurt once it's better and he just needs to be a little more careful next time.

[The_Doc]

I treat paediatric fractures, as you have described, and I never refer these sort of cases for post-cast physio.

Basically if you're a child you don't need physio for this, you'll just regain all of your movement and function naturally.

Be patient and let him use the arm as normal

Kids have a wonderful healing ability, much more than adults

[cheeky_chops]

cheers all - he does seem quite a bit more able just this evening and was showing me how he can nearly straighten his arm!

The missus was also saying that something had come "off" or away in his elbow. FFS. Next time i am going to take him myself so i know the FULL story grrr

[Slink]

swerni said:

My 13 year old broke his radius and ulna before Christmas.
Operation, wires inserted then a cast for 6 weeks on total.

Was back to normal in no time.

He broke it properly

OWWWIEEEEE. that looks painful.

luckily i have never broken a arm or leg so dont really know what that feels like, tho think i have messed my back up quite badly.