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Middle Years (7-12)

Childhood injuries How to know when it’s simple – or serious By Ashley EliotPublished: November, 2009

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Children bounce back. They can run around in circles for hours and trip or fall a few times in the process, yet still keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny. While kids are more likely than adults to get hurt, they actually heal faster.     As children, some of us fractured an arm or leg from, say, skateboarding, or sprained an ankle playing soccer. The fact is, children are active and get hurt in the process, but they also recover faster. When a child undergoes a severe, traumatic injury such as a fracture, he should be given loving care and attention, even if he seems to be healing just fine.     “Ideally, this means seeing an orthopedic specialist within five to seven days of the injury, especially if manipulation to align the bone is required,” says Dr. John Schlechter, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) who specializes in sports medicine. “Yet the period of immobilization required for healing will not be as long as for an adult.”     If your child feels a pop or crack in a ligament, then it’s most likely a fracture or sprain. Even if a child may feel little pain, it is always a good idea to X-ray the area, just in case.     1  |  2  |  3

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