Arm Injury

Types of Arm Injuries

• Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. A broken collarbone is the most common broken bone in children. It's easy to notice because the collar bone is tender to touch. Also, the child cannot raise the arm upward.
• Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of a joint. A dislocated elbow is the most common type of this injury in kids. It's caused by an adult quickly pulling or lifting a child by the arm. Mainly seen in 1 to 4 year olds. It's also easy to spot. The child will hold his arm as if it were in a sling. He will keep the elbow bent and the palm of the hand down.
• Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments.
• Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles (such as a pulled muscle).
• Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports (such as a sore shoulder).
• Muscle bruise from a direct blow
• Bone bruise from a direct blow
• Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scratch, scrape or bruise. All are common with arm injuries.

Pain Scale

• Mild: your child feels pain and tells you about it. But, the pain does not keep your child from any normal activities. School, play and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: the pain keeps your child from doing some normal activities. It may wake him or her up from sleep.
• Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps your child from doing all normal activities.

1. What You Should Know About Minor Arm Injuries:
   • During sports, muscles and bones get bruised.
   • Muscles get stretched.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
   • Use as needed.
3. Small Cut or Scrape Treatment:
   • Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until bleeding stops.
   • Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water.
   • Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
   • Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover it with a bandage. Change daily.
4. Cold Pack for Pain:
   • For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
   • Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
   • Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
   • Reason: Helps the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
   • Caution: Avoid frostbite.
5. Use Heat After 48 Hours:
   • If pain lasts over 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
   • Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
   • Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
   • Reason: Increase blood flow and improve healing.
   • Caution: Avoid burns.
6. Rest the Arm:
   • Rest the injured arm as much as possible for 48 hours.
7. What to Expect:
   • Pain and swelling most often peak on day 2 or 3.
   • Swelling should be gone by 7 days.
   • Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Pain becomes severe
   • Pain is not better after 3 days
   • Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse