Arm or Leg Trauma
Injury Definition
- Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament
- Injuries to arms and legs
- Types of injuries include the following:
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Dislocations (bone out of joint)
- Sprains – stretches and tears of ligaments
- Strains – stretches and tears of muscles (e.g. pulled muscle)
- Muscle overuse injuries from sports or exercise (e.g. shin splints of lower leg)
- Muscle bruise from a direct blow (e.g. charley horse of thigh muscles)
- Bone bruise from a direct blow (e.g. hip or elbow)
See More Appropriate Topic
- If involves finger or toe, see Finger or Toe Trauma
Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
- Serious injury with multiple fractures
- Major bleeding that can’t be stopped
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
- You think your child has a serious injury
- Looks like a broken bone or dislocated joint
- Swollen elbow or any large swelling
- Skin beyond the injury is pale or blue
- Age < 1 year old
- Severe pain
- Won’t stand, walk or has a bad limp when walking
- Unable to move arm normally (especially if someone pulled on the arm)
- Joint nearest the injury can’t be moved fully (opened and closed)
- Knee injury with a “snap” or “pop” felt at the time of impact.
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If
- You think your child needs to be seen
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
- You have other questions or concerns
Parent Care at Home If
- Bruised muscle or bone
- Mild strained (pulled) muscle
- Mild sprained (stretched) ligament
Home Care Advice for Mild Pain, Mild Swelling or Mild Limp
- Treatment of Strained Muscle, Bruised Muscle or Bruised Bone:
- Apply an ice bag or massage the area with ice for 20 minutes per hour. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours. After 48 hours, use local heat for 10 minutes 3 times per day to help reabsorb the blood
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen 4 times per day for pain. Continue for at least 48 hours
- Rest the injured part as much as possible for 48 hours
- For strained muscles, teach the youngster about stretching exercises and conditioning
- Treatment of Mild Sprains of Ankle or Knee
- First aid: immediate compression and ice to reduce bleeding, swelling, and pain
- Treat with R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) for the first 24 to 48 hours
- Apply compression with a snug, elastic bandage for 48 hours
- Numbness, tingling, or increased pain means the bandage is too tight
- Apply crushed ice in a plastic bag for 20 minutes per hour. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen 4 times per day for pain. Continue for at least 48 hours
- Keep injured ankle or knee elevated and at rest for 24 hours
- After 24 hours, allow any activity that doesn’t cause pain
- Expected Course: Pain and swelling usually peak on day 2 or 3. Swelling is usually gone by 7 days. Pain may take 2 weeks to completely resolve
- Call Your Doctor If
- Pain becomes severe
- Pain is not improving after 3 days
- Pain lasts > 2 weeks
- Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms