Fractures Video

Greg Hrasky, MD is the chair of Orthopedic Surgery and practices at Cardon Children’s Medical Center

ASK THE EXPERT: Fractures - Full Transcription

Text:     This video is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is not intended to provide professional medical advice or any other professional service. If medical or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Audio:  Opening Theme Music

Text:     Banner Health Presents: Ask the Expert
   
Text: Greg Hrasky, MD
 Chair of Orthopedic Surgery
 Cardon Children’s Medical Center

Images: Greg Hrasky, MD, speaks on-camera.

Text: Common Causes:
 -Child’s play
 -Sports

Audio:  “The most common cause of fractures in children, particularly in the nice, temperate climate we live in, are simply whatever you can imagine children doing for fun: trampoline, scooters, bicycles are up there—as well as the rainbow assortment of sports we have here in the Valley such football, soccer, basketball.”

Images: Greg Hrasky, MD, speaks on-camera.

Text: Surgical Procedures:
 -Pin fixation
 -Rod insertion
 -External fixators

Audio: “The spectrum of surgical procedures for children’s bone injuries ranges from simple pin fixation, which is one of the most common elements that are utilized—which is utilizing a small device, about the thickness of a paperclip, to get two bones together and tense them together so they can heal appropriately. In more significant circumstances, we do need to use rods that are inserted inside the bone. And in some circumstances, devices such as external fixators, which for lack of a better worded description, is akin to an erector set with pins crossing the bone and then a device on the outside of the extremity that can adjust the position of the bone.”

Images: Greg Hrasky, MD, speaks on-camera.

Text: What To Do:
 -Check for deformities
 -Seek medical attention
 -Apply ice to injured area
 -Use an OTC pain medication
 -Persistent pain

Audio: “Parents often ask what they should do if they suspect that there is a fracture or a broken bone. First of all, if your child has a deformity to the limb that is obvious to you, such as a lump or bump that has occurred subsequent to an injury, you probably should seek urgent medical attention. On the other hand, if your child takes a tumble on the playground, has what they may regard to as an ‘owie’ or something that the coach has asked attention be given to but there is not obvious deformity, my recommendation is that the parent or whoever is attending to them, if it’s a coach or a team leader, place a bag of ice over the injured area. Further, if your child has safely, in the past, used a simple over the counter pain medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, those can be administered. And then, if the pain does not quiet within an hour or two, I would then strongly urge the parent to give consideration to seeking prompt medical attention.”

Text:    For more health information from Banner Health experts
            Please visit www.BannerHealth.com or call Banner Health’s
            Physician Referral & Resource Line at 1(800) 230-CARE (2273)

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