Broken arm

[Bathbomb99]

Posting in here for traffic.
Was looking for some insight really. My son broke his humerus on Tuesday. A supracondylar fracture I think they called it. Had to have an operation and three wires (pins) were put in. He’s currently in a half bandage half cast but will have a full cast next week once the swelling has gone down. I just wondered how they go about that? He’s a very anxious child and will want to know what happens beforehand. Will it hurt? Will they sedate him again? Will he see the wires? He’s not thought to ask yet but I know he will. I should have asked at the hospital but it was all very stressful and I was running on adrenaline and barely any sleep. Thanks in advance.

I don't know for sure, but I imagine that they will be very kind. If your son is worried/panicky/stressed, I am sure they'll be happy to sedate him. DH had a minor procedure last year and they asked him if he wanted to be sedated or stay conscious. He chose 'be sedated' as he was very anxious.

Just explain the issue when you get there with your son - OR see if there is someone you can speak to beforehand, in that department. (To give them a heads-up and let them know your son may want to be sedated.)

All the best.

Hi, my DD had this last year. She wasn’t sedated when the bandage came off (and wasn’t given the option to be, but maybe if you ask in advance it could be an option?) and you could see the wires. It did make her feel a bit faint, but I think that was the stress of it all rather than it actually hurting. They said that for the next cast change we should make sure that she had a full meal first.
But the nurse was lovely and DD liked the fact that she could pick what colour the cast was going to be.
You could provide him with earphones/music as a distraction?
We also made a thing of a trip to the sweet shop after cast changes to buy a treat and a magazine

Thank you for your replies, the ortho surgeon said he wouldn’t see the wires but I need to check as in quite sure that would scare him. I will definitely ask about sedation if I feel it necessary and if not I can distract him with my phone etc.