What Does the Doctor Do?
To treat the broken bone, the doctor needs to know which kind of fracture it is. That's where X-rays come in handy. X-rays are like pictures that give doctors a map. They can see what's broken and set the bones back in their normal position.
After your bone has been set, the next step is usually putting on a cast, the special bandage that will keep the bone in place for the 1 to 2 months it will take for the break to mend. Casts are made of bandages soaked in plaster, which harden to a tough shell (that's why they last so long!).
Sometimes casts are made of fiberglass or plastic. Whatever the outer material, they also have a cotton inner lining so that the layer next to your skin is soft and comfortable. Casts used to be all white, but now they come in different colors and patterns. Casts today sometimes have waterproof liners, so you might be able to get them wet or even go swimming. But always ask the doctor the rules for your particular cast!
With breaks in larger bones or when a bone breaks in more than two pieces, the doctor may need to put in a metal pin — or pins — to help set it. For this operation, you'll get some medicine so you'll be asleep and unable to feel any pain. When your bone has healed, the doctor will remove the pin or pins.
How Do Broken Bones Heal?
Your bones are natural healers. At the location of the fracture, your bones will produce lots of new cells and tiny blood vessels that rebuild the bone. These cells cover both ends of the broken part of the bone and close up the break until it's as good as new.
What to Do When the Cast Comes Off
Can you believe they use a saw to remove your cast? The funny thing is this saw doesn't hurt your skin at all. It might even tickle!
Once the cast is off, the injured area will probably look and feel pretty weird. The body part that was in a cast might look strange at first. The skin might be pale, dry, or flaky. Body hair might look darker and the body part itself might look smaller because you might have lost some muscle while it was healing.
Don't worry. This is all temporary. Kids are great healers, so you'll be back to normal soon. In some cases, your doctor might suggest you do special exercises to improve your strength and flexibility. You'll want to go slow and ask the doctor if you should avoid any activities, such as hanging from the monkey bars. If you want to return to a sport, ask the doctor how soon you'll be able to do it.
How can you be sure you don't break any more bones? Accidents happen, but you’ll stay safer when you listen to your teachers and coaches. Always wear helmets, pads, and the right protective gear for your activity or sport.
It's also a smart idea to do what you can to build strong bones. How do you do that?
- Get a lot of physical activity, especially stuff like jumping and running.
- Feed your bones the calcium and vitamin D they need to stay strong. That means getting your share of milk and other calcium-rich foods and drinks, such as broccoli and calcium-fortified orange juice.
Date reviewed: September 2015