Uptown Office: 450 West End Avenue • New York, NY 10024 • 212-769-3070 • Fax: 877-451-0227

Downtown Office: 2 Fifth Avenue • New York, NY 10011 • 212-353-0072 • Fax: 877-451-0227

Uptown Office: 450 West End Avenue • New York, NY 10024 • 212-769-3070 • Fax: 877-451-0227

Downtown Office: 2 Fifth Avenue • New York, NY 10011 • 212-353-0072 • Fax: 877-451-0227

Arm or Leg Trauma

Injury Definition

  • Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament
  • Injuries to arms and legs
  • Types of injuries include the following:
    • Fractures (broken bones)
    • Dislocations (bone out of joint)
    • Sprains - stretches and tears of ligaments
    • Strains - stretches and tears of muscles (e.g. pulled muscle)
    • Muscle overuse injuries from sports or exercise (e.g. shin splints of lower leg)
    • Muscle bruise from a direct blow (e.g. charley horse of thigh muscles)
    • Bone bruise from a direct blow (e.g. hip or elbow)

See More Appropriate Topic

Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If

  • Serious injury with multiple fractures
  • Major bleeding that can't be stopped

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

  • You think your child has a serious injury
  • Looks like a broken bone or dislocated joint
  • Swollen elbow or any large swelling
  • Skin beyond the injury is pale or blue
  • Age < 1 year old
  • Severe pain
  • Won't stand, walk or has a bad limp when walking
  • Unable to move arm normally (especially if someone pulled on the arm)
  • Joint nearest the injury can't be moved fully (opened and closed)
  • Knee injury with a "snap" or "pop" felt at the time of impact.

Call Your Doctor within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

  • You think your child needs to be seen

Call Your Doctor during Weekday Office Hours If

  • You have other questions or concerns

Parent Care at Home If

  • Bruised muscle or bone
  • Mild strained (pulled) muscle
  • Mild sprained (stretched) ligament

Home Care Advice for Mild Pain, Mild Swelling or Mild Limp

  1. Treatment of Strained Muscle, Bruised Muscle or Bruised Bone:
  • Apply an ice bag or massage the area with ice for 20 minutes per hour. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours. After 48 hours, use local heat for 10 minutes 3 times per day to help reabsorb the blood
  • Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen 4 times per day for pain. Continue for at least 48 hours
  • Rest the injured part as much as possible for 48 hours
  • For strained muscles, teach the youngster about stretching exercises and conditioning
  1. Treatment of Mild Sprains of Ankle or Knee
  • First aid: immediate compression and ice to reduce bleeding, swelling, and pain
  • Treat with R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) for the first 24 to 48 hours
  • Apply compression with a snug, elastic bandage for 48 hours
  • Numbness, tingling, or increased pain means the bandage is too tight
  • Apply crushed ice in a plastic bag for 20 minutes per hour. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours
  • Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen 4 times per day for pain. Continue for at least 48 hours
  • Keep injured ankle or knee elevated and at rest for 24 hours
  • After 24 hours, allow any activity that doesn't cause pain
  1. Expected Course: Pain and swelling usually peak on day 2 or 3. Swelling is usually gone by 7 days. Pain may take 2 weeks to completely resolve
  2. Call Your Doctor If
  • Pain becomes severe
  • Pain is not improving after 3 days
  • Pain lasts > 2 weeks
  • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms