Please help: rubbish news - 15 mth old has broken arm

[zumm]

Ug, the worst - Just as we were going out yesterday, baby raced and fell down stairs. Turns out he has broken the large bone in his forearm. Surreal.
Has anyone else's baby experienced this and have you any advice re how to help him over the next month?
Any knowledge about the long term impacts of a break so young? Have these fears that when the cast comes off I'll find a withered arm... I know this is unlikely, then again I have memories of my 11 year old brother's weird thin leg once his cast came off. Have also been reading stuff about breaks impacting the growth plates too - must stay away from internet.
Also to any MDs out there: qu - will this type of break will come back to haunt him when he's 52?
Anyhow, back to topic. For anyone who has gone through this, is there anything I can do to help the arm (should I be exercising his fingers for example? Spotted this on another old thread - yet not something the doctors advised me to do.) His cast runs from just above elbow and to his hand and it was a complete break.
He is in good spirits, at least. I, on the other hand, feel rotten... Thanks for any help.

[zumm]

Bump (literally)! Pl just say if you have any tips on helping a baby with a broken arm.

[littleshinyone]

he'll be absolutely fine.

I presume you'll have a fracture clinic appointment for him (although you say MDs, so maybe you're not in the UK and things may be different)... this is the place to check about problems with growth plates, as it all depends on the particular type of fracture. If there was concern over that, I would expect people to have let you know about it already, to emphasise the importance of re-x raying etc.

baby fractures will heal very quickly, and as arm muscles support less than leg muscles, there is much less dramatic wasting when the cast comes off.... but a baby so young and active will build up the muscle very quickly! don't worry about trying to get them to exercise- probably more trouble than it's worth!!

sounds like you're much more distressed than your little one, I hope you're both ok!!

[zumm]

Thats little - so helpful - I have calmed down now and, yes, all that you say makes sense. I do have a follow-up next week so you're right, I'll check any extra questions then. Thanks again.

[littleshinyone]

glad things feel a little easier for you both, I'll be looking out to see how you get on!