Best Pediatric Fracture Care in Mohali | Children's Fractures, Plaster Casts and Bone Injury Treatment at Cheema Medical Complex (CMC Hospital) near Chandigarh

Children’s fracture care at Cheema Medical Complex, Mohali

Children fall, climb, run and play, and sometimes a fall from a swing, a bicycle or the stairs ends with a broken bone. Children’s bones are different from adults’ bones. They are softer, they heal faster, and they are still growing, so a fracture in a child needs care that protects the growing bone.

At Cheema Medical Complex (CMC Hospital), on Mohali Stadium Road in Phase 4, the emergency is open 24 hours with X-ray on site. The orthopaedic team treats children’s fractures, and a paediatrics department is in the same hospital. Families come to us from Mohali, Chandigarh, Zirakpur, Kharar and across the Tricity.

If your child has hurt a limb badly, come to the emergency and call 8054922340 on the way.

Common fractures in children

Forearm and wrist fractures: the most common, usually from falling on an outstretched hand
Elbow fractures (such as supracondylar fractures): common in young children after a fall from a height, and they need careful assessment of the nerves and blood supply
Collarbone fractures: often from falls or in newborns during birth
Greenstick and buckle (torus) fractures: incomplete breaks that bend or crumple the soft bone instead of snapping it
Growth plate fractures near the ends of long bones
Leg fractures: shin bone (tibia) fractures, including “toddler’s fractures” in young children who suddenly refuse to walk
Finger and toe fractures

Signs of a fracture in a child

Pain that does not settle after a few minutes, or crying when the area is touched
Swelling or bruising
A limb that looks bent or out of shape
Refusing to use an arm or to put weight on a leg
In toddlers, limping or suddenly refusing to walk

What to do before you reach the hospital

Keep the injured limb still and support it on a pillow or folded cloth.
Do not try to straighten it.
Remove rings, bangles or tight clothing near the injury.
Use a cold pack wrapped in a cloth.
Do not give food or drink if the injury looks serious, in case a procedure is needed.
Come to the emergency, especially if the limb looks deformed, the skin is broken, or the hand or foot is pale, cold or numb.

What happens at the hospital

The emergency team gives pain relief and supports the limb. X-rays confirm the fracture and show its type. The orthopaedic doctor checks the nerves and blood supply and explains the plan to you, in simple words for your child too.

Treatment

Casts and splints

Most children’s fractures heal well in a plaster or fibreglass cast or a splint. Buckle fractures of the wrist often need only a removable splint for a few weeks.

Setting the bone (closed reduction)

When the broken ends are out of position, the doctor gently sets the bone back into place under sedation or anaesthesia, then applies a cast. Children’s bones remodel as they grow, so some angulation is acceptable in young children, and the doctor will explain what is expected.

Surgery

A smaller number of fractures need fixation with wires, screws or plates, for example some elbow fractures, fractures through a joint, and fractures that cannot be held in a cast. The surgeon will explain why and what to expect.

Looking after the cast

Keep it dry. Cover it with a plastic bag when bathing.
Do not let your child put pens, sticks or other objects inside it.
Keep the limb raised for the first few days to control swelling.
Encourage your child to wiggle their fingers or toes.

Come back straight away if the fingers or toes turn pale, blue or cold, there is numbness or tingling, pain keeps getting worse, or the cast cracks, gets soaked or smells bad.

Follow-up and growth

Children usually need follow-up X-rays to check that the bone is healing in a good position. Fractures near the growth plates are watched over time, so any effect on growth is caught early. Most children are back to full activity within weeks of the cast coming off.

Preventing falls and fractures at home

Use safety gates on stairs and window guards for young children.
Make sure children wear helmets and wrist guards when cycling or skating.
Supervise play on trampolines, swings and climbing frames.
Make sure children get enough calcium, vitamin D and outdoor activity for strong bones.

After a minor fall: when to bring your child in

Many falls cause only a bruise. Watch your child for a few hours and bring them to the hospital if:

They keep refusing to use the arm or walk on the leg
Swelling increases, or the limb looks bent
Pain does not settle with rest and simple pain relief
They are unusually sleepy, vomit, or hit their head
The injured part is pale, cold or numb

If you are unsure, have it checked. An X-ray is quick, and the emergency is open 24 hours.

Helping your child cope with a cast

Explain in simple words that the cast is like a hard bandage that helps the bone mend.
Let friends and family sign it or draw on it.
Plan easy activities at home, such as drawing, reading and board games.
Talk to the school about help with writing, bags and stairs if needed.
Praise them for being brave at each follow-up visit.

Common questions from parents

Will the bone be weaker after it heals? No. In children, a healed fracture is usually as strong as the rest of the bone.

Is a slightly bent healed bone a problem? In young children, bones often straighten as they grow. The doctor will explain what to expect for your child’s age and fracture.

Can my child bathe or swim with a cast? Most casts must stay dry. Ask before any water activity, and keep swimming for after the cast comes off.

Older children and teenagers often hurt themselves playing sport; see sports injury treatment. For fractures in adults and accident injuries, see fracture and trauma care.

Why Cheema Medical Complex

24/7 emergency with X-ray on site.
Orthopaedic care led by Dr. Gaurav Jain, MBBS, MS (Orthopaedics), FISM (Spain), whose work includes trauma care.
Paediatrics department in the same hospital.
Physiotherapy if your child needs help regaining movement after the cast.
On Mohali Stadium Road, Phase 4, close to Chandigarh, Zirakpur and Kharar, and trusted by families since 1988.

Book a follow-up or get help now

For an injury now, come to the emergency and call 8054922340 on the way. For a fracture review or follow-up, book an appointment. The orthopaedic OPD runs Monday to Saturday, 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my child has broken a bone?

Watch for pain that does not settle, swelling, bruising, a limb that looks bent, refusing to use an arm or walk on a leg, and crying when the area is touched. Young children may not be able to explain, so refusing to use the limb is an important sign. An X-ray is the only way to be sure.

Do children's fractures heal faster than adults'?

Yes. Children's bones have a thick, active covering (periosteum) and heal much faster than adult bones. Many children's fractures heal in three to six weeks, depending on the bone and the child's age.

What is a growth plate fracture?

Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage near the ends of long bones, where the bone grows. A fracture through a growth plate needs careful treatment and follow-up, because damage can occasionally affect how the bone grows. Most heal well with proper care.

How do I look after my child's plaster cast?

Keep it dry, do not let your child push objects inside it, and keep the limb raised for the first few days. Come back straight away if the fingers or toes turn pale, blue or cold, if there is numbness, if pain keeps getting worse, or if the cast cracks, gets wet or smells bad.

Will my child need surgery for a fracture?

Most children's fractures are treated with a cast or splint, sometimes after gently setting the bone under sedation or anaesthesia. Surgery with wires, screws or plates is needed for a smaller number of fractures, for example some elbow fractures and fractures that go through a joint or cannot be held in a cast.

When can my child go back to school and sports?

Most children can go back to school within a few days, with a cast and a note for the teacher. Sports usually wait until the bone has healed and strength and movement are back, which the doctor will check at follow-up.

Pediatric Fracture Care in Mohali Children's Fracture Care Gentle care for growing bones