What is a fracture?A fracture is a break in the bone that occurs when more force is applied to the bone than the bone can withstand. Fractures are also known as broken bones. Arm bones are fractured more often than other bones.Common childhood fractures:* Broken collarbone or shoulder* Broken arm* Broken elbow* Broken forearm, wrist, or hand* Broken hip* Broken thigh bone or knee* Broken leg, foot, or ankleWhat are the symptoms of a fracture?The signs and symptoms of a fracture include:* Pain or swelling in the injured limb* Obvious deformity in the injured area* Difficulty using or moving the injured area in a normal manner* Warmth, bruising or redness in the injured areaSeek medical care right away if your child displays any of symptoms of a fracture. If you can see the bone poking out through the skin, get to a hospital urgently.What are the risks for fractures?Fractures are commonly associated with sporting accidents, falls from heights, and bike and car accidents. Poor nutrition, a diet low in calcium, and obesity can all increase a child’s fracture risk.How are a child’s bones different from adult bones?Children’s bones grow throughout childhood. This growth potential allows children’s bones to “remodel,” or naturally correct some or all of the deformity caused by a fracture. Because children’s bones are growing, they also break in different patterns compared to adult bones.Children’s bones are more flexibleGrowing bones tend to buckle or bend before breaking, which often leads to unique fracture patterns. For instance, one side of a bone may bend, causing a greenstick (bending) fracture. Or one side of the bone can buckle and become dented, causing a buckle fracture.Children have vulnerable growth platesChildren have soft areas of cartilage at the ends of their bones, called growth plates, where growth takes place. These areas of growth are often at risk when a child suffers a fracture. Growth plates can be injured at any stage of development, but are more common in early adolescence, when growth plates are in their final stage of growth.Children’s bones heal fasterA thick layer of connective tissue (known as periosteum) surrounds a child’s bones and defends the bone against injury and fracture. This tissue provides blood supply to the bone. If the bone breaks, the body uses this supply of blood to replace damaged cells and heal the bone. As children grow into adulthood, their periosteum tends to thin out and provide less support. This is why adults’ bones heal more slowly than children’s bones.Growth plate fracturesA thick layer of connective tissue (known as periosteum) surrounds a child’s bones and defends the bone against injury and fracture. This tissue provides blood supply to the bone. If the bone breaks, the body uses this supply of blood to replace damaged cells and heal the bone. As children grow into adulthood, their periosteum tends to thin out and provide less support. This is why adults’ bones heal more slowly than children’s bones.How we care for fracturesEvery year the we treat hundereds of children, adolescents, and young adults with fractures of all complexities. Thanks to our paediatric expertise, we can precisely diagnose conditions related to the growing musculoskeletal system and give optimal care plans. Most fractures in children can be treated with plasters but some will require surgical reduction and fixation for better long term outcomes.FAQQ: Can my child get a waterproof cast?This is a good thing to ask about during your appointment. A waterproof cast might or might not be the right option for your child. If your child is eligible for a waterproof cast, they will need to wait at least one to two weeks before switching to a waterproof cast. This is because the tissues around a broken bone often swell at first.Waterproof casts are ideal for baths, showers, and swimming pools. Your child should not wear their waterproof cast in the ocean, a hot tub, at the beach, or in a pond. Sand and debris can get inside the cast and irritate the skin. Waterproof casts must get completely submerged in water daily to keep the lining of the cast in good condition.Q: What should I do if my child’s cast has gotten wet?This is a good thing to ask about during your appointment. A waterproof cast might or might not be the right option for your child. If your child is eligible for a waterproof cast, they will need to wait at least one to two weeks before switching to a waterproof cast. This is because the tissues around a broken bone often swell at first.Contact us immediately…..Unless your child has a waterproof cast, a wet cast can lead to complications and need immediate attention. Your child may need to be seen in the emergency department to have their cast changed.

Infection in the bones, joints, or muscles may occur at any age. Infections can spread quickly through a young child’s blood and bones.Definitions:Abscess - a collection of pus. This can occur in the skin, soft tissue, muscle, or even bones.Osteomyelitis - infection of the bone caused by bacteria.Myositis - infection of the muscle caused by bacteria.Pyomyositis - myositis that also has an abscess in the muscle.Septic arthritis - infection of the joint caused by bacteria.Antibiotics - medicine that fights infection.SymptomsPain, swelling, fever, not being able move the arm or leg, or being unable to put weight on a leg are all possible signs of infection. These signs are worrying when there has not been a recent accident or fall. You should bring your child to a doctor if he or she has these signs. Some patients may have been sick recently with a cold, sore throat, or chest infection.ExaminationThe doctor will carefully look at the areas around the painful arm or leg as well as touch those areas to see what hurts. He or she may also try to gently move the joints. He or she will also take vital signs such as checking your child’s temperature.Other TestsLaboratory tests:Your doctor will order blood tests if he or she is worried about infection. This helps to diagnose an infection. Repeating the lab tests during treatment also helps the doctor know how your child’s body is responding to treatment.X-rays:Many times, early in the infection, the x-rays will be normal. If the infection is not treated, there will be changes in the bone that your doctor can see.Ultrasound:If septic arthritis is suspected, an ultrasound can show if there is fluid in the joint. The ultrasound may also look at the other side to compare. This test is easy to do and can be done with young children awake.MRI:MRI is very good at showing infection, inflammation, or areas of pus that need to be surgically drained. However, your child must lie completely still; so many young children need to be asleep to get an MRI.Bone scan:A bone scan is used if there are multiple areas in the body that may have an infection. It is also useful if your child has an infection, but your doctor is not sure where the infection is.TreatmentAntibiotics are the main treatment for infection. Surgery may be needed to remove infected material, especially if an abscess is seen. If there is septic arthritis, surgery usually will be needed to wash bacteria out the joint. In some cases, septic arthritis may be treated by using a needle to draw the infected fluid out of the joint. This may need to be repeated several times. Getting fluid or bone samples in surgery is also helpful to send to the lab to find the type of bacteria causing the infection. This helps to select the correct antibiotic. In very severe infections, the child may need surgery more than once to fully get rid of any infection.Bone infections are often treated with antibiotics for 4 to 6 weeks. Joint and muscle infections are often treated for 3 weeks. Once the infection is controlled in the hospital, most patients can receive treatment at home with antibiotics by mouth.OutcomesMost patients with bone and joint infections do very well and do not have long term problems once the infection has been treated. In very rare cases, more surgery may be needed to rebuild the bone if the infection was very severe.FAQQ: What caused the infection?There are many ways that bacteria can get in the body. Bacteria move in the blood until they get to a bone, joint, or muscle. Bacteria then leave the blood and grow in the bone, joint, or muscle tissues. Infections are usually caused by bacteria that are in our normal living area, both indoor and outdoor. The most common bacteria causing bone, joint, or muscle infections in children is Staphylococcus aureus (“staph” infections).Q: Will my child get an infection again?Once treated, bone infection usually does not cause long term problems. Children usually do not to develop the same bone or joint infection again. Basic washing and cleanliness is always important.Q: Why is my child being restricted from sports and PE?Limiting your child from sports and PE helps to protect bone. The bone may be weak from infection or surgery. Casts or splints may also help protect the extremity and decrease further inflammation, especially in the early in treatment.Q: My child seems to be doing fine at home. Do we really need to continue with the full course of antibiotics?Finish all antibiotics as instructed. Follow-up with your doctor to make sure the infection is gone. Stopping the antibiotics early may lead to continued infection, partially treated infection, or drug-resistant bacteria.Q: Will my child have any long term problems?Once a bone, joint, or muscle infection is properly treated, almost all kids do very well and have no long term problems. However, if a joint is infected and not treated urgently.

What is Clubfoot and How Is It Treated ?Clubfoot is one of the most common birth defects. It affects 1.2 in every 1,000 babies born. If your child has clubfoot, don’t stress — it is a relatively easy congenital condition to treat.What Causes Clubfoot?In many cases, we don’t really know what causes the problem; this is called idiopathic clubfoot. * Genetics. Clubfoot may “run in the family” —This makes your child more likely to have clubfoot, but not all people with a family history of the condition have kids with clubfoot. * Environmental causes. women who smoke or drink alcohol during their pregnancy are more likely to have a child with clubfoot * Neuromuscular disorders or syndromes. Some cases of clubfoot are caused by a miscommunication between the brain and the muscles. It is sometimes seen in children with cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele, arthrogryposis, spina bifida and other conditions. * During development, a baby may develop positional clubfoot. It can happen when a baby is cramped or in an awkward position during the pregnancy. This is temporary and is not true clubfoot. After stretching and rotating the foot, it often returns to normal shape.Diagnosis and Symptoms of Clubfoot: What Does It Look Like?In some cases, clubfoot is first found on a prenatal ultrasound. However, most cases are noticed at birth. Clubfoot can be diagnosed by a specialist through a physical exam. If the foot regains its range of motion and a more normal shape with passive correction, the problem was probably due to being cramped during pregnancy. If the foot still does not, it is likely to be clubfoot.These are the key signs of clubfoot:Toes or middle of the foot curve inward and the Whole foot curves like a kidney bean/ Golf clubHeel is tilted inward and down, Tight heel cordTreatments for ClubfootClubfoot treatment will depend on a child’s age and the severity of their foot deformity.The Ponseti method is the gold standard of care for clubfoot. Initially it is treated with serial weekly plasters, some may require five to seven casts, plus one small procedure called Achilles tendon tenotomy (heel cord) to fully correct. Children with very stiff feet may require even more casting and additional surgeries. This helps get the foot into the proper position so that the new tendon won’t be as tight. The tendon grows back quickly in children and does not affect their walking ability.kids then have to wear “boots and bars” — a set of strap-on boots attached to each other by a bar underfoot — 23 hours a day for about three months. Then they can cut back to wearing them just during naps and at night until about 4-5 years of age.However, it’s not uncommon for some to have some recurrence, foot pain or rotation problems as older children or adults. This is especially common when the boots and bars weren’t worn enough or when the clubfoot was severe or related to a neuromuscular condition. In any case of recurrence your child might require further treatment.The Final Scoop on ClubfootIdeally, clubfoot should be treated starting at about one month of age. But no matter how old, anyone with clubfoot can be treated. It’s never too late to search for ways to improve the foot’s function and comfort!Our Clubfoot clinic experienceWhether you learn about it during an ultrasound or you discover it during delivery, it can be both daunting and frightening to hear that your child has been diagnosed with clubfoot. Every child deserves to walk and money should not be a barrier to quality treatment. We include parents and families in our treatment plans to help ensure our patients receive the best and most appropriate care possible.Every Wednesday our clinic caters t children with clubfoot in various stages. we provide casting treatment for patients with low socio-economic status with the help of our NGO partners and schemes. Free bracing is provided to all children till the end of their treatment as a part of this clinic, along with a 24hr hotline service to solve parental issues. We provide free counselling for parents, to make them better understand the condition, treatment and help build coping strategies for the family to improve outcomes. We are committed to using our resources to help children with clubfoot meet life's challenges — or find creative ways to work around them.