A fractured elbow means that one of the three bones in the elbow is broken. A cast protects the bone while it heals. You can help your child heal well by keeping follow-up appointments and taking good care of the cast.

• To reduce swelling in the first 24–48 hours:
  • Use pillows to raise the cast above heart level when your child is sitting down or sleeping.
  • Apply cold packs wrapped in a towel to the cast for 20–30 minutes every 3–4 hours for a few days. Don't put ice directly on the cast 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 cast care:

• Remind your child to wiggle the fingers to keep blood circulating normally.
• Check that the fingers have normal feeling, warmth, and color.
• Check the edges of the cast: Make sure your child isn't picking at or removing the padding from the edges of the cast. Make sure the skin near and under the cast isn't scratched.
• Don't put anything in the cast. Make sure your child doesn't put toys, food, or other objects into it.
• Keep dirt, sand, lotion, and powder away from the cast.
• 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 cast 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 cast when your child bathes. Put the arm and cast on something to keep them completely out of the water.
  • If the cast is accidentally splashed, gently blow air into it from a hair dryer on the cool setting.

Problems to watch for:

• Sharp cast edges: Put tape or moleskin (available at drugstores) on any rough spots.
• Itching: Tap lightly on the cast or use a hair dryer on the cool setting to blow air in and around the edges. Don't let your child scratch under the cast or put anything into it.
• 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:

• Make a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic specialist (bone specialist).
• Have your child avoid gym class, sports, and playground equipment and activities until the orthopedic specialist says it's OK.

• The pain continues while your child is taking pain medicine.
• The pain becomes worse, especially when your child stretches out the fingers.
• Your child is fussy and cannot be calmed down (this could be due to pain).
• Your child's fingers stay swollen even after propping up the arm for 1 hour.
• Your child has a fever.
• The skin around the cast looks red or raw.
• The cast:
  • 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 does the cast do? The cast is made of fiberglass or plaster with soft padding inside. It supports and protects the broken bone while it heals. It might feel snug, but it shouldn't feel too tight or painful. It can feel heavy, so your child might wear a sling around the neck and over the cast for support.

How long will my child have a cast? That depends on the type of injury and how your child is healing. Healing time varies, but a cast usually is worn for 3–4 weeks.

If no fracture was seen on the X-ray, why does my child have a cast? 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.