Your child has been treated for a Buckle Fracture of the Wrist. They have been thoroughly examined and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following instructions will aid their recovery.
'Buckle' Fractures of the Wrist
What has happened?
The injury your child has sustained is called a ‘Buckle Fracture’. It is a break in the wrist bone that will not cause any long term problems but does take about 3–6 weeks to heal.
What to do now?
The good news is that your child doesn’t need a plaster cast! There is a lot of evidence which supports treating this type of injury like a sprain. So, we will provide your child with a wrist splint to help reduce pain and minimise the risk of further injury.
In the first few days…
Your child will need to wear the splint on their wrist from now, for 3 weeks. The splint should be worn all DAY and NIGHT, and only removed for washing or bathing.
Your child may be in pain for several days and this can be managed at home with simple painkillers as advised by the doctor. There may also be mild swelling of the wrist which should settle in a few days. If the pain and swelling persist then contact the fracture clinic for advice.
If your child has any ‘pins and needles’ in the fingers whilst wearing the splint, it may be too tight. Try loosening it a little. If this does not help, contact the fracture clinic for advice.
In the first 3 weeks…
Your child is still allowed to move their fingers and use their hand as much as they want whilst wearing the splint, but they shouldn’t do anything that causes them pain or discomfort. It is important to keep the fingers moving so they don’t get stiff. We recommend that your child does not take part in physical sporting activities or rough play.
After 3 weeks…
After 3 weeks the splint can be removed permanently. Thereafter, we recommend that your child does not take part in physical sporting activities or rough play but swimming will be great exercise for them to get their strength and mobility back.
Be aware, it is common for your child’s wrist to hurt for a few days after the splint comes off permanently – this should settle.
We advise no return to sport for six weeks and to do so only when your child is pain free.
Do I need to come back to hospital?
Under normal circumstances it is not necessary to see your child again for this injury. However, should you have any concerns about the injury or the splint please contact the fracture clinic at University Hospital of Wales on (029) 2074 8030
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