Common Children’s Hand Injuries
Injuries to children’s hands and wrists are a common reason for visits to the emergency department or GP. And because children are still growing and developing, their injuries require assessment and treatment in a timely manner and may require different treatment and care compared with adults.
Common paediatric hand injuries include:
- fractures of the fingers and hands (eg. from direct blows or impact)
- broken arms (eg. from falls)
- finger & wrist dislocations (eg from twisting or impact during sports)
- trauma to fingers (eg. from being crushed in a slamming door)
- burns
Signs & Symptoms of Children’s Hand Injuries
Pain, bruising and swelling are obvious signs that a child has sustained injury to their hands. However, it may not always be obvious when a child has injured their hands. For example, not all fractures result in the bone being out of alignment or result in a loss of mobility. And in some many cases x-rays are needed to ascertain if a bone is broken.
We therefore recommend promptly going to the Emergency Department or your local GP if you have any concerns.
Helping Children With Handwriting Difficulties
If your child is experiencing difficulties or pain holding a pen or pencil which is impacting their ability to handwrite, it can have a negative impact on their emotional and social outlook. Our experienced and caring hand therapy practitioners can assess and develop a treatment program to assist your child in developing the fine motor skills required for handwriting.
Book an appointment with our experienced Hand Therapists by either calling us on (03) 4439 9885 or through our online booking system now
My Child Has Injured Their Hand - What Should I Do?
If you have any concerns, we recommend that you take your child to the emergency department of the nearest hospital or seek the advice of your local GP immediately. If you have been referred to a hand therapist by your GP or the hospital, or have ascertained that your child's injury to their fingers, hand, wrist, forearm or elbow requires hand therapy, you can contact us directly via phone, email, or contact us via our online booking system.
Please note, patients who want to refer themselves are welcome to do so. You only need a referral if you are funded under Workcover, TAC, The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), or you are on a Management Plan such as the Enhanced Primary Care Plan from your doctor.
