Broken elbow- holiday ruined? Another question please!

[shimmerandshine123]

I posted a few weeks ago as DS had broken his elbow, has pins and a cast. We spoke to the DR when he went to have his cast changed and they said they are going to remove the cast and pins 2 days before we go on holiday (not because of the holiday but just because that’s when it was due to happen anyway). After all the really helpful advice on the last thread I was all prepared for him to atill
be in a cast when we went and was going to buy the waterproof cover suggested so he could still swim.

Now that he is due to have it off I’m worried he won’t be able to swim after all because he will have the wound from the pins. From what I’ve read online it suggests 1-2 weeks of no swimming. Which is going to be a nightmare for a 7 year old on holiday! So I’m hoping someone may have some amazing suggestions like last time! I was thinking of asking the DR if we use a waterproof wound dressing and then the waterproof arm cover on top if that would work? But realistically what are the chances of him being able to go in the water?

Honestly I’d expect those chances to be very low. Can you rearrange the holiday? If not I hope you find a solution. I don’t think I’d be prepared to risk it… so sorry OP

I had my broken elbow pinned a few years ago. Not what you will want to hear but alongside the infection risk, I'd expect your DS to be a bit tentative using it for a while. He will have lost strength in that arm, and the range of motion will take a while to recover, so he also might not enjoy swimming in the same way for a while. Relaxed bobbing around would be fine but 7 year old jumping into the pool, thrashing around and whacking siblings with pool noodles for amusement (which is what all mine did), not so much.

My daughter broke her wrist on holiday. We got a waterproof cover but it didn’t work well and she had to get the whole cast redone. I think it would have been ok for running in the sprinklers, but it didn’t survive the pool. She was also terribly uncomfortable much of the time and it was a simple break. A broken elbow and pins is far more serious and I’d prioritise his recovery and reschedule the holiday.

Why can’t you still use the waterproof cover?
My DH had a nasty wound in the weeks before our very expensive, dream honeymoon. He used waterproof dressings and still did all the swimming and snorkelling that he wanted.

You’re going to need to re-arrange.

You can’t travel that close to a general anaesthetic and he’s not going to feel up to it at all.

The holiday can’t be rearranged unfortunately. And just to confirm he won’t be having a general anaesthetic they will just be removed in clinic. @Smartiepants79thats really helpful! I will still hopefully be able to use the waterproof cover.
also just to note he struggles with swimming anyway so he wouldn’t be actually swimming just paddling in the shallow end

Cracks me up on here how people say just rearrange. When the op won't be able to rearrange this close without losing money and insurance won't cover it because a child can't use the pool.

Op, when my daughter fractured her arm the day before a holiday and then also on holiday another time, we used the Bloccs waterproof cover and it was great.

A waterproof dressing plus an arm cover/sleeve would be fine. Learn how to change the dressings and take a pack with you. Tbh some light water fun would be great rehab for him- bring an armband or buy a pool noodle or float to support him but gentle exercise in the pool may do him the world of good. He will have a Weird tan mind you!
Hope you have a great holiday- look at soft support options too if he needs a rest or some protection if going somewhere busier.

Travel insurance absolutely would cover for a broken elbow. Would’ve done when OP posted her first thread too, when it became clear SHE still wanted her holiday and didn’t really care if her son was in pain or not.

@heyjudenathanks for the judgement but actually what you didn’t know if that this is a group holiday with other family members involved, my son is desperate to go as he wants to be with his cousins etc. the hospital said he is absolutely fine to go on holiday as he will have his cast off. So maybe stop being so judgy and stay off a thread if you’ve got nothing nice to say?

If he isn't really swimming and is just paddling I'm sure he will have to take it easy as he will be tentative about using it. Try and get him stretching it out as soon as he can because bone can grow round the pins and restrict movement. I'd get him a squeezy hand ball to start building strength back up.

As someone who also broke an elbow badly, and went on a pre planned holiday a month later to see family, my main issues were on the flight. Make sure you have pain killers, and I'd ask for ice for when it starts to get hot whilst in the air.

My daughter also broke her foot on holiday when she was 4 - we were in the states for a family reunion and she was gutted not to be able to run around with her cousins. So as it’s a bigger group and he probably shouldn’t be running around, think about games etc to bring along for him. Don’t want him re injuring himself while you’re away.

I would definitely think waterproof dressings and the cover are worth a go.

I'd be more concerned about cousins getting carried away and being too boisterous with him or chucking water over him. Is it worth speaking to the other adults so they can speak to them before hand.

I also think just the waterproof cover will be ok, it will also serve as a reminder to others to take care around him. Swimming pools should be chlorinated and a couple of tiny puncture wounds should heal in a few days. Obvs keep an eye on infection.

You need to wait and see what the hospital say, but generally he should be fine splashing around with it covered up. If he was doing lengths of front crawl that would be different, but messing around in the shallow end is unlikely to be a problem.