Broken Arm - What to expect/tips?

[catspajamas]

My 2.5 year old DD broke her arm yesterday after falling at a birthday party. I am spiraling on google so thought it might be better to step away and see if you ladies can help me. The break is called a green stick fracture and it occurred in her ulna. I really don't know the severity etc because my DH took her to the ER and didn't ask, understandable given distraught toddler.

Ok so questions. I think it requires a cast (based on google), it is currently in a plaster (I think) splint. We are supposed to see an orthopedic surgeon this week but I don't know when and the office doesn't open until 10am. The cast is worrying me. She is super active and goes to a daycare center full time. How on earth can it be kept dry and clean for 4 months? It likely will go to her knuckles like the splint, she just can't wash her hands? We have a beach vacation planned for 2 weeks from now (a first for our family), I guess that is gonna be a problem.

I would like to request a waterproof cast but apparently those aren't common. Anybody have experience with these?

Ok that was a word vomit, kudos if you made it through.

[flippinchica]

I work in the field and many places have a waterproof cast but it is often an additional cost since the more expensive materials aren't covered by insurance. I would definitely ask about it. The beach may be an issue because you don't want to get sand under the cast. I wouldn't expect a cast to be needed longer than 6 weeks. Most kids with arm casts go to daycare and it isn't a big deal.

[joy]

Four months in a cast? Bones heal within six weeks. Even when I broke my radius clear in half and cracked my ulna, I was only casted for six weeks. Full disclosure - I've broken my left arm three times.

Waterprood casts were definitely a thing when I broke my arm all three times. Ask for one!

Within a week, her arm is going to feel fine in that cast. Should she run and fall on it? Hang from monkey bars? Eh, no. But she will be able to run around, play with toys, etc. Casts are so protective. They are hard, though - careful that she doesn't hit other kids with it!

And decorate it! Let her have art time and draw on it.

[shanadoo]

Yes to waterproof cast and when he's at school you can keep his arm in a sling. After a couple of days he won't even notice it.

[catspajamas]

Thanks ladies you've made me feel much better. I meant to type 4 weeks not 4 months! I've read it could be as short as 3 weeks at this age.

[catspajamas]

I've taken her into daycare and luckily I love love love the staff there and they reassured me she would be ok and they'd make sure she had a fun and comfortable day.

[NariaDreaming]

My ortho won't do waterproof casts. She feels they don't work as well, and I've seen that firsthand- my friend's son broke his arm and he was re-cast 3 times.

Yeah, washing hands is out- hand sanitizer and baby wipes will be your BFF. Either way it gets funky in there.

Curad makes stretchy cast covers that are waterproof so you don't have to duct tape a trash bag over your arm in the shower.

And make sure that they give you a good pediatric sling. Good support makes all the difference in the world when it comes to comfort.

[catspajamas]

@hilarityensued, thanks for sharing your experience. I had meant to type 4 weeks not 4 months, a little scattered today.

[lbonga1]

DD2 broke her leg the day of her 1st bday from tripping over a toy. She was in a cast for 6 weeks, but she was up and walking around on it the first day. It wasn't waterproof, and there was one time where she was standing next to the bathtub while her sister was in it. They were splashing, got water out of the tub, and ended up stepping right into a puddle with her cast. The ortho said it was ok to dry on cool with a hairdryer, so that's what we did and it was fine. If it was totally soggy and losing its shape then we would have had to go back to get her re-casted.

[catspajamas]

Update: DD saw the ortho this morning and got a cast. The doctor looked at me like I had 3 heads when I asked about the waterproof cast and said they didn't do that, so we have a bright pink regular one. He thinks she broke both of her forearm bones and the cast goes pretty far up (over the elbow) which he said was necessary to get a good fit as her arm is so small. He was not a great communicator or I didn't ask the right questions so I'm not sure if that is why we needed a traditional cast. He said 4 weeks and she can get it off.

Thanks again for all of your help this morning.

[Deleted]

Glad to see it's set and ready to go!

[NariaDreaming]

Feb 13, 2017 14:27:50 GMT -5 catspajamas said:

Update: DD saw the ortho this morning and got a cast. The doctor looked at me like I had 3 heads when I asked about the waterproof cast and said they didn't do that, so we have a bright pink regular one. He thinks she broke both of her forearm bones and the cast goes pretty far up (over the elbow) which he said was necessary to get a good fit as her arm is so small. He was not a great communicator or I didn't ask the right questions so I'm not sure if that is why we needed a traditional cast. He said 4 weeks and she can get it off.

Thanks again for all of your help this morning.

As much as a full-arm cast sucks, it really is what's best for healing. When I broke my wrist in 2015, they started me with a forearm cast, but I still had too much mobility which ended up necessitating cutting the cast off 72 hours after I had it put on and getting a full-arm cast.

Oh, if you have a snoogle, they're GREAT for sleeping with a cast. I lived in my recliner until I realized the snoogle kept me from tossing and turning.