Main content

Broken Bones

Chloe was playing on the monkey bars. It was lots of fun, until she fell and started crying. She said she couldn't move her arm and she was in pain. Someone got a teacher, who said Chloe had probably broken a bone. The teacher called Chloe's parents, who took her to the hospital.

This is what it might be like if someone breaks a bone at school. When you break a bone, it is also called a fracture.

Types of fractures
Why do bones break?
What does it feel like to break a bone?
What do you do if you think someone has broken a bone?
What does the doctor do for broken bones?
What happens when the cast comes off?

Types of fractures

There are many different types of fractures:

A hairline fracture is a tiny break.
Greenstick fractures are when the bone cracks, but only on one side.
Single fractures are when the bone breaks in one place.
A complete fracture is when the bone splits into two.
Open fractures occur when the bone breaks and sticks out of the skin (ouch!).
A special kind of fracture that happens only in kids occurs when the bone doesn't break, but bends. This is called a bowing fracture.

Why do bones break?

Bones break as a result of too much pressure. Bones can bend a little bit, especially in kids, but then they can snap.
Back to top

What does it feel like to break a bone?

Ask someone who has broken a bone what it feels like and they'll probably tell you it hurts! For some people it hurts more than others. The pain level can also depend on the kind of break.

Sometimes people don't even know that they have broken a bone, especially if it is a tiny hairline fracture. On the other hand, sometimes a person who breaks a bone can go into shock, which can be very dangerous. They might not feel pain, but their skin might get pale, their breathing can change and they might faint. Call 911 immediately if you think a person is in shock.
Back to top

What do you do if you think someone has broken a bone?

Do not panic!
Let the person stay where they are. Do not try to move the broken bone, as it will hurt the person more.
Get a teacher or another adult.
Make the person comfortable.
Put an ice pack on the place that is swelling.
If you cannot find an adult, call 911.

An ambulance might come or someone will drive the patient to the hospital, where they will see a doctor.
Back to top

What does the doctor do for broken bones?

The doctor will usually take an X-ray to see if the bone is actually broken or to see what kind of break it is. X-rays do not hurt, so don't worry!

If it is a bad break, the doctor might have to do surgery and put pins along the bone. You will be given a medicine that either makes the area numb or makes you go to sleep, so they won't feel anything.

The doctor will probably give you a brace or a cast to keep the bone from moving while it heals. Braces are removable, but casts are not. You might get to choose the color of the cast. Depending on where the break is, the cast might cover a small area or even the whole leg or arm!

The bone will heal while inside the cast because your bones will produce extra bone cells in that area. These bone cells put the bone back together.
Back to top

What happens when the cast comes off?

Did you know that the doctors saw the cast off? Sounds scary, but really, you can't even feel it.

The skin under the cast might look different because it has been covered for a while. It might be dry and lighter than the rest of the skin. The hair might look darker than the hair on the rest of your body, and it might seem heavier. The part that the cast covered might also be smaller because the muscles were not used for a while.

After the cast comes off, your skin, hair and muscles will soon be back to normal because the body helps you heal. But you may not be able to play sports right away, and you might have to do physical therapy. These are special exercises done to strengthen the muscles again.

Remember: You cannot always prevent broken bones, but you can take some precautions to keep them from happening. Always wear a helmet if you will be on a bike or skateboard, and don't do anything too dangerous on the monkey bars unless an adult is spotting you. And if you do break a bone, just think that about how your body will heal itself. In a few months, you will probably be able to pretend it never happened!
Back to top