Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees children with fractures, with a parent or guardian, at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. The clinic is not an emergency department; a fresh, badly injured limb goes to a hospital first. For follow-up, bring the emergency discharge letter, the X-ray images or disc, and any school nurse or sports club injury notes.
How do children's bones break?
Children's bones are still growing, and they break differently from adult bones. They are softer and can bend, so a child may have a buckle fracture, where one side of the bone squashes, or a greenstick fracture, where the bone cracks on one side and bends on the other. Near the ends of the long bones are growth plates: areas of cartilage where the bone grows in length. Growth plates are weaker than the bone around them, so they are easily injured. Because a growth plate helps decide the future length and shape of the bone, an injury there needs prompt and careful treatment. Most children's fractures heal well, and faster than an adult's.
Who it can help
- A child who has fallen and will not use an arm or put weight on a leg.
- Swelling, warmth and tenderness near a joint, such as the wrist, elbow, knee or ankle, after an injury.
- An arm or leg that looks bent or out of shape.
- A child already treated in an emergency department who needs fracture follow-up.
- A fracture through a growth plate that needs watching as the child grows.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash lists paediatric orthopaedics on his CV, including all paediatric trauma. In 2016 he published a study on elbow fractures in children (supracondylar fractures) treated by closed reduction, meaning putting the bones back in line without opening the skin, and fixing them with thin K-wires. Because some growth plate injuries do not show clearly on X-rays, he examines the child carefully as well as reading the images. He explains each step to the child and the parents in plain words.
What to expect
Emergency care first
For a limb that looks deformed, a bone through the skin or severe pain, the first stop is an emergency department, which splints the limb and takes X-rays.
Specialist assessment
He examines the injured area, checks the feeling and blood supply in the hand or foot, and reviews the X-rays. A scan is used only when it will change the plan.
Cast or splint
Many children's fractures, including buckle fractures, heal in a cast or splint. Some need the bones gently pushed back in line under anaesthetic first.
Consent
A parent or legal guardian makes the decision and signs the consent for any procedure, after all questions are answered.
Surgery, when needed
Unstable or badly displaced breaks may be held with thin pins or wires, and less often with screws or plates. Pins are usually removed a few weeks later, once healing has begun.
Follow-up
A check X-ray in the first one to two weeks makes sure the bone has not slipped. Growth plate injuries may be followed for months to check that the bone keeps growing normally.
Recovery, in general terms
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- A stable buckle fracture often needs about three to four weeks in a cast or splint.
- Elbow fractures are usually kept in a cast or splint for three to six weeks.
- Wrist and elbow stiffness after the cast comes off usually settles within two to three weeks, often without physiotherapy.
- Avoid climbing frames and contact sport for a few weeks after the cast is removed, while the bone regains its strength.
Risks to know about
- A growth plate injury can, rarely, slow or stop growth, leaving a limb shorter or crooked. Follow-up is designed to spot this early.
- A fracture can slip out of position in the cast during the first weeks, which is why early check X-rays matter.
- Elbow fractures can injure a nerve or blood vessel; the hand is checked at every visit.
- Any operation carries a small risk of infection or a problem with the anaesthetic.
When to book a visit
For a deformed limb, a bone through the skin, a cold or pale hand or foot, or severe pain, call 998 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department. Book a visit for fracture follow-up, pain near a joint that has lasted more than a few days after a fall, or a second opinion on a child's fracture.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
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Questions patients ask
My child was given a temporary splint at a Dubai emergency department. What now?
Keep the splint on and book a consultation for the next few days, as the emergency team advised. Bring the discharge letter and X-rays, so he can check the position and decide on a cast or further treatment.
What is a growth plate fracture?
It is a break through the area of cartilage near the end of a growing bone, where the bone gets longer. Most heal without problems, but some need careful follow-up because the growth plate helps decide the final length and shape of the bone.
What is the difference between a buckle and a greenstick fracture?
In a buckle fracture, one side of the bone squashes and bulges but the bone stays in place. In a greenstick fracture, the bone cracks on one side and bends on the other. Both are common in children because their bones are softer.
Will my child need an operation for a broken bone?
Most children do not. Many fractures heal in a cast. An operation is considered when the pieces have moved a long way, the break is unstable, the skin is broken, or a nerve or blood vessel is at risk.
Can a growth plate fracture be missed on an X-ray?
Sometimes. A growth plate is made of cartilage, which does not show clearly on X-rays, so a break through it can be hard to see. This is why a careful examination matters as much as the images.
Book an appointment
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