DD (5) having pot removed from broken arm after 4 weeks: what should we look out for?

[JoyceDivision]

M'netters, you are honoured, as DH suggested 'asking mumsnet if anyone can think of anything' which means you are all the equivalent of doctors

so, DD broke her arm (just above the wrist) 4 week ago tomorrow, and she has her apointment at the fracture clinic tomorrow to have the pot removed.

4 week does seem a bit early... we've checked the NHS website which says there is a risk of the bones breaking so to avoind trampolines, soft play etc for 2 to 3 weeks after the pot is removed...

But is there anything else any ne can suggest we should be cautious of? Would it be beneficial for the pot to stay on longer? Can we request that? Anything to aid recovery?

Any help appreciated!

Is the pot the cast? Sorry I don't know what pot means. My 5 year old broke her arm on the last day of school and had the cast on for 4 weeks. She just took it easy for a couple of days and seemed to be fine.

What does POT mean?
I have heard a cast called a POP when it was Plaster of Paris , is this what you mean?
4 weeks is normal for straight forward break in children. Extra care needed for a couple of weeks after cast removal.

dont know if this will help but look out for mashed potato.When my son got his plaster off many years ago the plaster technician was telling me that he found many strange things down the plaster, but the worst he said was weeks old mashed potato. , he said you would be amazed what the little ones manage to shove down their plasters.

I often heard plasters called pots .

Do you mean she broke her wrist? If so, I would imagine it's a 'green stick' fracture, which is why it only needs 4 weeks in plaster.

Green stick fractures are much more common in young children, because their bones are still growing and still reasonably soft and rather than a clean break, it's more of a split, that just needs holding together, whilst it heals itself.

DD has had these typed of fractures on both her wrists. One when she was about 6 and was only in plaster for about 3 weeks, the second when she was 10 or 11 and was in plaster for a bit longer.

When the doctor took the second plaster off, he felt it, x-rayed it again and decided it wasn't quite fixed, so put another one on for a week.

She had wrist splints to put on after that, but they did encourage her not to use it unless she really needed to.

Not sure I was much help on what to look out for really, but I don't remember having to look out for anything with DD. She was caution about her wrists and moaned now and again about a bit of pain, but she was fine.

After 4 weeks, aged 5, the vast majority of uncomplicated fractures will be well healed. There isn't really anything to 'look out for'. Kids of that age will naturally protect an injured limb, and won't want to use an arm if it is hurting them. Keep her off obvious hazards like trampolines for a couple of weeks to be on the safe side, but the chances of any problems are tiny.

Thank you for your posts. DD had her pot removed ( the plaster one that usually gets drawn all over!) and had a shorter one with the fabric that is 'set' with water put on, but below the elbow so she can use her arm more, so it s protected for a couple more weeks..

My ds broke his wrist, it needed a cast and two ops, so not always so simple.