It’s summertime. Accidents happen.
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but the season for extra daylight and outdoor activity is also the season for breaks and pains. Many children are heading outdoors to participate in their favorite sport and water activity which can lead to more orthopedic injuries during the summer months.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 3.5 million sports-related injuries occur each year in the United States to children younger than age 15, with fractures among the most common. Dr. Adam Handwerger, The Orthopaedic Group’s Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist, says there is always a spike in injuries during the summer months. “Once kids start getting out of school, the injuries definitely start to pick up.” The most common injury Dr. Handwerger treats in the summer is usually broken arms. “Fractures to the forearm are most common and usually caused by falling from monkey bars, trampolines or scooters.”
The bones of children are different than those of adults and require specialized pediatric care to promote proper healing and future growth. Dr. Adam Handwerger is trained to understand the various types of fractures that a child may experience and the proper treatment needed for each one.
Preventing Breaks and Pains
Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries. Falls at home and on the playground are a common cause of injury. The best way to prevent or minimize these injuries is through attentive adult supervision. Check the playground for hazards, accompany young children as they play, and help them understand playground rules and equipment use.
- Check to make sure that the surfaces under playground equipment are safe, soft, and well-maintained.
- Supervise young children at all times around fall hazards, such as stairs and playground equipment.
- Use stair gates, which can help keep a busy, active child from taking a dangerous tumble.
Symptoms of a Fracture
It’s important for parents to remember that children can fracture bones accidentally in everyday activities. Signs and symptoms of a broken bone include:
- Swelling or bruising over a bone
- Deformity of an arm or leg
- Pain in the injured area that gets worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied
- Loss of function in the injured area
- In open fractures, bone protruding from the skin
Dr. Adam Handwerger is specially trained to correctly diagnosis and treat injuries in children. Call (251) 450-2746 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Handwerger at the Pediatric Center at The Orthopaedic Group, P.C.
