A radial head fracture is a type of elbow fracture. It happens when there's a break in the radius bone, which connects the elbow to the wrist. The part of the radius that joins the elbow joint is called the "radial head."

Your child got a splint along with a sling to support it. An orthopedic specialist (bone specialist) will replace the splint with a cast in a few days when the swelling goes down. You can help your child by going to all follow-up visits and taking good care of the splint.

• To reduce swelling in the first 24–48 hours:
  • Use pillows to raise the arm above heart level when your child is sitting down or sleeping.
  • When your child is awake, put cold packs wrapped in a towel on the splint for 20–30 minutes every 3–4 hours. Don't put ice directly on the splint. The splint must stay dry.
• For pain: 
  • Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) OR ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand) as recommended by the care team. Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. 
  • If your doctor prescribed a pain medicine but your child still has pain, ask the doctor or pharmacist if it is OK to also give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Daily splint 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 splint: Make sure your child isn't picking at or removing the padding from the edges. Make sure the skin near the splint isn't scratched.
• Don't put anything in the splint. Make sure your child doesn't put toys, food, or other objects into it.
• Keep dirt, sand, lotion, and powder away from the splint.
• Your child should use the sling when up and walking around. Don't let your child wear the sling while sleeping.
• Keep the splint 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 arm when your child bathes. Put the arm up on something to keep the splint completely out of the water.
  • If the splint is accidentally splashed, gently blow air into it from a hair dryer on the cool setting.

Problems to watch for:

• Sharp edges: Put tape or moleskin (available at drugstores) on any rough spots.
• Itching: Tap lightly on the splint 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 splint 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:

• Schedule a follow-up visit with the orthopedic specialist as recommended.
• 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 gets worse, especially when your child stretches out the fingers.
• Your child's fingers stay swollen even after propping up the arm for 1 hour.
• Your child has a fever.
• The skin around the splint looks red or raw.
• The splint:
  • gets wet
  • feels too tight or too loose
  • is damaged or smelly
  • has something stuck inside it

How do elbow fractures happen? This type of fracture can happen when kids hold out their arm to try to stop a fall.

What is a splint? A splint is like a cast and supports the bone, but it is soft part of the way around to allow room for swelling.