A fractured elbow means that one of the three bones in the elbow is broken. A splint protects the bone while it begins to heal. In a few days, an orthopedic specialist (bone specialist) will replace it with a cast. You can help your child heal well by keeping follow-up appointments and taking good care of the splint.

• To reduce swelling in the first 24–48 hours:
  • Use pillows to raise the splint above heart level when your child is sitting down or sleeping.
  • Apply cold packs wrapped in a towel to the splint for 20–30 minutes every 3–4 hours for a few days. Don't put ice directly on the splint because it must stay dry.
• For mild pain, give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) as directed. Ask the health care provider about other medicines to use if the pain is not improving or gets worse.

Daily splint care:

• Don't remove or change the position of the splint.
• Remind your child to wiggle the fingers to keep blood circulating normally.
• Check the area around the splint every day. Make sure the skin isn't scratched and the fingers aren't pale, blue, numb, or tingling.
• Make sure your child doesn't pick at the lining of the splint or scratch under the splint.
• Don't put anything in the splint. Make sure your child doesn't put toys, food, or other objects into it.
• Keep dirt, sand, lotion, and powder away from the splint.
• If given a sling, your child should use it when up and walking around. Do not let your child wear the sling while sleeping.
• Keep the splint dry: 
  • No swimming.
  • Give sponge baths to kids younger than 5 years old.
  • Older kids should take baths instead of showers.
  • Put a plastic covering over the splint when your child bathes. Put the arm and splint on something to keep them completely out of the water.
  • If the splint is accidentally splashed, gently blow air onto it from a hair dryer on the cool setting.

Problems to watch for:

• Itching: Tap lightly on the splint or use a hair dryer on the cool setting to blow air in and around the edges.
• Swelling: If the fingers look puffy, raise the arm above the level of the heart for 1 hour. If the swelling doesn't get better, call your health care provider.

Be sure to:

• Follow up with the orthopedic specialist when recommended.
• Have your child avoid gym class, sports, and playground equipment until the orthopedic specialist says it's OK.

• Your child's pain continues while taking pain medicine.
• The pain becomes worse, especially when your child stretches out the fingers.
• Your child's fingers stay swollen even after propping up the arm for 1 hour.
• Your child has a fever.
• The skin around the splint looks red or raw.
• The splint:
  • feels too tight or too loose
  • becomes damaged, wet, or smelly
  • has something stuck inside it

• Your child's fingers tingle or become numb, blue, or pale.

How do kids get an elbow fracture? Kids can break a bone in the elbow during play or sports. Often, this happens when an arm is stretched out to stop a fall.

What is the difference between a splint and a cast? Both a splint and a cast support and protect the broken bone while it heals. In a cast, the hard part goes all the way around the arm. But in a splint, the hard part only goes partway around the arm (this allows space for swelling). Splints and casts can feel heavy, so your child may have had a sling placed around the neck and over the splint for support.

If no fracture was seen on the X-ray, why does my child have a splint? The elbow is an important and complicated joint where three bones come together. X-rays can't always show us everything we need to see. Sometimes the broken bone is obvious on an X-ray. Other times, pain in the elbow or fluid collecting around the elbow joint is the only sign of a fracture.