

It’s normal for a low-grade fever to develop within the first 48 hours after surgery. Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Some pain is likely after the pins and cast are in place. Even the more severe type 3 injuries can often be treated by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. Open reduction is required only occasionally. If the displacement is more severe or there is damage to the nerves or blood vessels, open surgery will likely be needed. Open reduction with internal fixation.A splint is applied for the first week and then replaced by a cast.
#Closed fracture elbow skin#
Along with resetting of the bones as described above, your doctor will insert pins through the skin to rejoin the fractured parts of the bone.
#Closed fracture elbow full#
Sometimes a splint is used first to allow the swelling to go down, followed by a full cast. Surgery is usually not necessary if the fracture is a type 1 or a milder type 2, and if there are no complications.Ī cast or a splint can be used to immobilize the joint and allow the natural healing process to begin. If you suspect you or your child has a supracondylar or other type of fracture, see your doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible. possibility of more than one fracture around the elbow.restriction of blood flow indicated by a change in color of the hand.possibility of damage to nerves and blood vessels.Your doctor may also request an X-ray of the uninjured arm to make a comparison. In very young children, the bones may not be sufficiently hardened to show up well on an X-ray. This type of injury is less common.Įxtension fractures are further classified into three main types depending on how much the upper arm bone (humerus) has been displaced: If you or your child is diagnosed with a flexion injury, that means that the injury has been caused by a rotation of the elbow. These make up about 95 percent of supracondylar fractures in children. If you or your child has an extension fracture, that means the humerus has been pushed backward from the elbow joint.

If the doctor identifies a fracture, they will classify it by type using the Gartland system. If a physical examination shows likelihood of a fracture, the doctor will use X-rays to determine where the break occurred, and to distinguish a supracondylar fracture from other possible types of injuries.
