Dr. Anuj Gupta
Spine Surgery
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
My 8-year-old son had a hairline fracture in his right elbow. Fourteen days after fracture, since the pain was not reducing, the orthopedic applied synthetic plaster. It was kept on for 22 days. After opening plaster, his entire arm is swollen, with extreme pain in the wrist, fingers, elbow, and shoulder. He has a full range of movement, but after bending his elbow or writing, his entire arm and hand are paining. The palm also is swollen and hot to touch. There is no redness or discoloration. It has been 21 days since the plaster was removed, but swelling and pain are there. The pain is constant and aggravates at night. Cold compression is not helping. X-rays were taken before and after removal of the plaster to check for healing and any possible nerve damage. What is the cause of continued swelling and pain, and how to help him? Currently, he is taking a Benfomet tablet, half a tablet daily, and Gabapin one tablet daily. Please help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Could you please send the picture of his arm? This will help me to guide you better.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Yes, I am attaching the pictures. You can see his right hand, wrist, and arm are more swollen than his left one and also paler than the left. Also, you can see the pressure marks from his plaster and how his arm was cut while removing the plaster by the saw because it was too swollen. Please help.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Well, there is swelling compared to another limb (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). But seeing it does not look like something to worry about. This swelling is because the limb was not in use due to immobilization in plaster, so there is stasis of blood and lymph. Is he able to bend his elbow completely?
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Yes, but it pains a lot. Also, when he writes his wrist pains, when he twists his arm to show the elbow, he feels a sharp pain. Please advise.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
That is the problem. Due to immobilization, his joints have become stiff. Unless he moves his joints in all directions multiple times in a day, this swelling will not subside. I suggest you take him regularly to a physiotherapist and make his joints exercise adequately. Initially, it may be a painful thing for him, but later on, pain and swelling will subside. For the initial few days, you can give him some painkillers.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Is there any medicine for the swelling? Also, due to the COVID situation, most clinics here are not allowing children. Please advise.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
There is no medicine for swelling. I suggest an Ibuprofen tablet when required for pain. From the internet, you can look for elbow range of motion exercises, wrist range of motion exercises, supination and pronation exercises, and lastly, finger gripping exercises. This will slowly help in subsiding the swelling and pain.
Thank you.
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Spine Surgery
Orthopedician and Traumatology
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