Greenstick Fracture

[PeonyPetals]

My poor 15 month old fell over last week and is now in a cast for the next 3-4 weeks with a greenstick fracture We are waiting to receive an appointment through from the fracture clinic, but wanted to know if anyone could tell me how their little ones healed with similar fractures please? I'm worried now her arm/wrist will be vulnerable after the cast comes off and feel so anxious when she's toddling around that she will land on it again. I never would have thought that they could get a fracture from a little fall and now feel so anxious all the time and just want to wrap her in cotton wool I have lots of questions I want to ask at her next appointment but until then I'm hoping one of you who has been through this with their little one can tell me their (hopefully positive) experience.

[sparkleandsleep]

My 9 month old was in full leg plaster after a similar fracture of her lower leg. She had the plaster on for 3 weeks and as soon as it came off she was weight bearings and using it as usual. She couldn't walk before it happened but she was happy standing and crawling as she was before. They heal quickly!

[PeonyPetals]

sparkleandsleep that's great to hear it healed so quickly, I'm glad your little one recovered well. Mine couldn't use her arm to crawl after falling but since having the cast on is now crawling on it again, so that must be a good sign! Thank you

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

Greenstick fractures are so common in kids, and heal really easily. I had one as a child and had no problems with it afterwards. A boy in DS's class has two - one per arm! - and seems completely unbothered.

[Couchpotato3]

Greenstick fractures are exactly what they sound like - the break doesn't go all the way through the bone, so even without a cast, they would heal perfectly well and the cast is really there as a precaution to protect them if they fall again etc. The younger the child, the faster they heal. Very unlikely to be any lasting effects from this. It's completely natural to be anxious after an injury to your LO, but she'll be fine, honestly.

[PeonyPetals]

Thank you for reassuring me! She's not in any pain and unfazed by the cast so I'm sure she's healing just fine. The doctor did say a sling would be fine for it but obviously a sling on a young child would be a nightmare.