Your child has a buckle fracture in one or both bones in the lower part of the arm. A buckle fracture happens when the bone is bent but not broken all the way. Buckle fractures can be treated with a Velcro^® splint. The splint will keep the arm still while the bones heal.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations for:

• Caring for the splint
• What activities to avoid (such as sports, gym class, and playground equipment)
• Whether your child can take the splint off (for example, for bathing or putting ice on the injured area) or loosen it
• Any stretches or exercises your child should do
• When your child can stop wearing the splint (usually after 3 weeks)
• If your child needs to have a follow-up appointment

For pain and swelling:

• Give any pain medicines as recommended by your health care provider. These may include acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often. 
• Help your child get their mind off the pain by:
  • Doing something they enjoy, such as reading a book or watching a show together
  • Playing relaxing music
• Put ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel on the injured area for 20 minutes, every 3 hours. Don't put ice directly on the splint or skin.
• Prop up the arm on pillows when your child is sitting down or sleeping.
• If the fingers are swollen, have your child sit or lie down and prop the arm up on pillows for 1 hour. If your health care provider said you can loosen the splint, loosen it a little. If the swelling doesn't get better, call your health care provider.

Daily splint care:

• Check the area around the splint every day. Make sure the skin isn't scratched, and the fingers are not pale, blue, numb, or tingling. 
• Don't put anything in the splint. Make sure your child doesn't put toys, food, or any other objects into it.
• Keep dirt, sand, lotion, and powder away from the splint. 
• Keep the splint dry.
• If your health care provider says it's OK, remove the splint for bathing. Otherwise, while bathing, cover the splint with a cast cover or with 2 plastic bags sealed with elastic bands or tape.

Your child has:

• New or worsening pain that isn't controlled with the medicine
• Fingers that remain swollen even after propping up the arm
• Redness or a rash on the skin
• Pain, stiffness, numbness, or tingling after removing the splint in 3 weeks

The splint:

• Gets wet or damaged
• Is irritating the skin

How long will it take the buckle fracture to heal? Most buckle fractures take 3–4 weeks to fully heal. 

Will my child need a follow-up appointment? Since buckle fractures usually heal completely without any problems, most children do not need a follow-up appointment. 

When can my child return to gym class and sports? Most kids can return to gym class and sports when the splint comes off in 3 weeks. During the first week out of the splint, your child should start with gentle activities like throwing and catching a ball. If this doesn't cause any pain, they can return to all activities and sports.