Arm Injury

Symptoms

DEFINITION

• Injuries to arm
• Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament

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Types of Arm Injuries

• 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
• Muscle bruise from a direct blow
• Bone bruise from a direct blow

Pain Severity Scale

• MILD: doesn't interfere with normal activities
• MODERATE: interferes with normal activities or awakens from sleep
• SEVERE: excruciating pain, unable to do any normal activities, incapacitated by pain

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See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

• Involves finger, see FINGER OR TOE INJURY
• Only has cuts, scrapes, or bruises, see SKIN INJURY

Should I Call?

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

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
• Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches
• Age under 1 year old
• Bicycle spoke or washing machine wringer injury
• Pain is SEVERE (and not improved after 2 hours of pain medicine)
• Unable to move arm normally (especially if someone pulled on the arm)
• Joint nearest the injury can't be moved fully (opened and closed)

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Pain not improved after 3 days

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns
• Pain lasts over 2 weeks

Parent Care at Home If

• Bruised muscle or bone from direct blow
• Pain in muscle (probably from mild pulled muscle)
• Pain around joint (probably from mild stretched ligament)

Care at Home

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MINOR ARM INJURIES

1. Reassurance: Bruised muscles or bones can be treated at home.
2. Pain: For pain relief, give acetaminophen every 4 hours OR ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed. (See Dosage Table). Ibuprofen is more effective for this type of pain.
3. Local Cold: For bruises or swelling, apply a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a wet cloth to the area for 20 minutes per hour. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours. (Reason: reduce the bleeding and pain)
4. Local Heat: After 48 hours, apply a warm wet washcloth or heating pad for 10 minutes 3 times per day to help absorb the blood.
5. Rest:
   • Rest the injured part as much as possible for 48 hours.
   • For pulled muscles, teach your youngster about stretching exercises and strength training.
6. 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.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Pain becomes severe
   • Pain is not improving after 3 days
   • Pain lasts over 2 weeks
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Photo Example

Bruise on Forearm

Small minor bruise (contusion) on forearm.

First Aid - Bleeding Arm

• Apply direct pressure to the entire wound with a sterile gauze dressing or a clean cloth.

Nursemaid's Elbow

The medical term for nursemaid's elbow is subluxation of the radial head.

• Usually the child won't use the elbow.
• The palm of the hand is turned downward.

X-Ray - Clavicle Fracture

The x-ray shows a collar bone (clavicle) fracture in a 9 year old who fell off his bicycle.

 X-Ray - Normal Clavicle

First Aid - R.I.C.E.

RICE is an acronym for how to take care of a sprain, strain, or bruise. There are four things you should do:

• REST the injured part of your body for 24 hours. Can return to normal activity after 24 hours of rest if the activity does not cause severe pain.
• Continue to apply crushed ICE packs for 10-20 minutes every hour for the first 4 hours. Then apply ice for 10-20 minutes 4 times a day for the first two days.
• Apply COMPRESSION by wrapping the injured part with a snug, elastic bandage for 48 hours. If numbness, tingling, or increased pain occurs in the injured part, the bandage may be too tight. Loosen the bandage wrap.
• Keep the injured part of the body ELEVATED and at rest for 24 hours. For example, for an injured ankle, place that leg up on a pillow and stay off the feet as much as possible.

First Aid - Sling - How to Put On

To put on a sling you first need to have a triangular bandage. Many first aid kits have a triangular bandage.

• Find the two ends of the triangle that are farthest apart. These are the ends that you will tie around the neck.
• Lay the arm down the middle of the triangle.
• Take the two ends of the triangle that are farthest apart and tie them behind the neck. (a square knot is best, but any knot will do).

First Aid - Splint for Wrist Injury

• Immobilize the hand and wrist by placing them on a rigid splint (see drawing).
• Tie several cloth strips around hand/wrist to keep the splint in place. You can use a roll of gauze or tape instead of cloth strips.

Notes:

• You can make a splint from: a wooden board, magazine folded in half, folded-up newspaper, cardboard, or a pillow.
• If you have no splinting materials, then support the injured arm by resting it on a pillow or folded up blanket.
• After putting on the splint, apply a cold pack or an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) to the area.

Source: LMS Inc.

Copyright 2000-2009. Self Care Decisions, LLC. Used by Permission.