Understanding: Pediatric Fracture Care

Whether it involves climbing, jumping or running, children are notorious for their high energy while playing. With all this activity, there is a good chance that your child may experience an accident at some point, whether at home or on the playground. In fact, when it comes to children ages 1 to 16, 42% of boys and 27% of girls, risk bone fracture.

Because children’s bones are still growing and are smaller than adults’, they require special attention. Learn more about Pediatric Fracture Care at OCPBC and what our leading pediatric surgeons, Dr. Ahamed Mohaideen and Dr. Ezra Berkowitz, can do for you.

What Is a Fracture?

The word fracture refers to a break in a bone typically caused by trauma due to falls, motor vehicle accidents, or sports injuries. Bones can be fractured partially or completely, and can be “displaced” or “nondisplaced” depending on the pieces of bone and if they bend or move out of position.

Types of Fractures:

• Simple Fractures- fractured pieces of bone are well-aligned and stable.
• Unstable Fractures- fragments of the bone are misaligned or displaced.
• Open, or Compound, Fractures- fractures in which the broken bones cut through the skin.
• Greenstick Fractures- fractures that involve bending of one side of the bone without any break in the bone.

Caring for Pediatric Fractures

Your doctor will work to prevent the broken bone from moving by using either a cast or splint, or hardware like screws, rods, plates or pins. This will encourage faster healing and reduce damage to the tissue around the broken bone.

Depending on the type of fracture, along with the child’s age and overall health, your doctor will create an individual care plan based on your child’s specific needs.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Simple fractures may only require the support of a cast or splint to protect the broken bones while the heal. Fractures that are more severe in nature may require the doctor to carefully manipulate the bones back into place.

Surgical Treatment

In more complicated cases, such as when open or compound fractures are involved, your doctor will recommend surgery.

During surgery, your doctor will open the skin and align the pieces of broken bone fragments using pins, rods, or a cast to secure them in place until they have fully healed.

Expert Orthopedic Care in South Florida

A broken bone can be a painful and stressful experience for any child.

OCPBC’s trained and experienced Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons, Dr. Ahamed Mohaideen and Dr. Ezra Berkowitz are ready to help during your next emergency.

Dr. Ahamed Mohaideen specializes in Pediatric Orthopedics, including pediatric fracture care, pediatric sports medicine care, deformity correction as well as foot and ankle surgery and non-operative scoliosis management. Additionally, Dr. Mohaideen is trained in the Ponseti clubfoot casting technique and has been practicing the technique for 15 years. Click here to learn more about Ahamed Mohaideen, M.D.

Dr. Ezra Berkowitz is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training in operative and non-operative management of pediatric musculoskeletal care including sports, spine, developmental and trauma related issues that occur in children. Dr. Berkowitz is proficient in modern surgical treatment, but favors traditional techniques including casting, bracing and therapy, whenever possible. Click here to learn more about Ezra Berkowitz, M.D.

Do you have more questions about Pediatric Fracture Care? Call OCPBC today at (561) 967-6500.