"Mum, I think it's broken." Now what?

Whether it's a botched superman leap, a sibling wrestling match gone rogue, or just an unlucky fall at footy; sometimes kids break things. Sometimes that thing is a bone.

So...what do you do next?

When to call an ambulance or head to emergency?

If the injury is serious, call 000 immediately.

You should always seek emergency help if:

• The injury happened in a major accident (car crash, fall from height etc.).
• Your child is unconscious or unresponsive.
• There is heavy or uncontrolled bleeding.
• There is the possibility of head, neck or spinal injury.
• The arm or leg is at an unusual angle or discoloured.
• The bone is sticking through the skin.
• There is severe bleeding or swelling.

Need a full first aid rundown? Please check out St John Ambulance Australia's guide.

Not an emergency? Kinkaya can help!

If you suspect your child has a broken done, dislocation or serious sprain- but it's not life threatening- Kinkaya Urgent Care is here to help.

Even if you're unsure, it's best to assume it is a fracture until proven otherwise.

And no. Please don't try and 'pop it back in'.

Here's what to do straight away:

• Support and immobilise the area (use a splint if you have one).
• If bandaging, make sure it's not too tight- check for warmth, colour and circulation every 15 min.
• Don't try and straighten the limb or force anything into place.
• Seek medical help- you are always welcome here at Kinkaya.

What happens at Kinkaya if a fracture is suspected?

1. Triage

When you arrive, our triage nurse will:

• ask what happened.
• Check for any other injuries.
• get a brief medical history.
• Start pain relief if needed.

2. Assessment

Our doctor will examine the injury. If a fracture or dislocation is suspected, we'll send you straight for an x-ray.

Yes, we now do x-rays on-site!

Our radiology service is now up and running, including evenings and weekends. That means less running around for you and faster answers.

Check our radiology hours here.

Learn more about x-rays at Kinkaya in this post.

Treatment plan for simple fractures.

Most simple fractures heal in around 6 weeks, but the exact approach depends on the type and location of the break.

Here's what a typical fracture journey at Kinkaya looks like:

Day 1: Assessment & immobilisation

• We'll review the x-rays and immobilise the limb, usually with a back slab (a half cast with bandages). This allows room for swelling in the early days.
• If there's major displacement, we may refer you to the hospital for orthopaedic review. Otherwise, we can manage your care right here at Kinkaya.

Week 1: Review & full cast

• You'll come back for a follow-up x-ray.
• If healing is on track, we'll put on the final cast.

Week 6: Cast off & final check

• Cast is removed.
• A final x-ray is taken to make sure the bone has healed.
• If all is well- great! If not quite there, we'll either re-cast or refer for further orthopaedic care.

Useful resources.

For a full rundown on fractures and their management. here's some useful links:

Health Direct- fractures

Sydney Children's Hospital- fracture fact sheet

St John Ambulance- fracture & dislocation first aid fact sheet