Broken bones are common among children of all ages. They can happen for a variety of reasons including as a result of playing contact sports, in playground incidents or car accidents. Parents often ask doctors many questions when they take their child to the emergency room or an urgent care facility after such an incident. They often want to know what the long-term prognosis is for their children after they’ve broken a bone.
It matters how you respond when you suspect that your child has broken a bone. You should make sure that your child doesn’t move or place any weight on any part of their body that has been injured until a doctor evaluates their injury.
Your child’s doctor will likely brace, splint or cast a relatively minor broken bone to keep it stabilized. Your son or daughter’s physician may have to operate to reset bones or to insert a stabilizing rod in place if your child’s fracture is more severe.
Parents who make sure that their kids follow doctor’s orders and return for regular check-ups are most apt to heal the quickest. Your pediatrician may end up having to reset or realign your child’s bones during these visits. These appointments may happen every week after an injury first occurs. These check-ups are critical to making sure that your child isn’t left with long-term consequences from their injuries.
Young patients that break a bone and don’t receive follow-up care risk damaging their growth plates. This can lead to arthritis and other joint problems. Such an injury can also cause a child not to reach their full growth potential as they age.
It’s the responsibility of day care workers, bus drivers, teachers and other caregivers to keep a watchful eye over your kids when your son or daughter is at school, at camp or otherwise under their care. If the person that is supposed to be responsible for your kids drops the ball in taking care of them, then you may be able to sue them for negligence. An attorney can advise you of your right to file suit here in Waco or elsewhere in Texas.