Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fracture Surgery: Your Journey from Preparation to Full Recovery
Maintain a healthy diet and ensure your child is well‑hydrated. Notify the surgeon if your child develops a fever or illness.
The night before surgery, bathe your child with Hibiclens or a chlorhexidine wash, focusing on the arm and leaving the solution on the skin for two minutes before rinsing. Dress them in clean pajamas and avoid lotions. Your child should not eat after midnight; clear liquids are allowed until two hours before arrival【290077065956792†L164-L166】.
On the morning of surgery, repeat the Hibiclens shower or use disposable chlorhexidine cloths to cleanse the surgical arm, then let the skin air‑dry and put on clean clothing. Give only approved medications with a sip of water and do not allow food or drink until after the procedure.
After surgery, the fracture is stabilized with pins and your child will have a long‑arm cast or splint for 3–4 weeks. Keep the cast clean and dry, elevate the arm on pillows and have them move their fingers frequently to maintain circulation. Use ice packs over the cast for the first 48–72 hours to control pain and swelling and administer pain medicine as directed. Rest and avoid sports or gym activities until cleared by the surgeon.
Your child should not lift more than 5 pounds or participate in sports while the cast is on and for four weeks after it is removed. In general, no weight should be borne through the injured arm until advised by the surgeon. The cast must remain clean and dry, and the sling or immobilization technique helps prevent rotation of the shoulder and elbow.
Continue to use the sling or collar‑and‑cuff to support the cast and keep the arm elevated. Do not remove the cast or let your child put objects into it; check the skin under the collar daily. Encourage finger movement, but avoid lifting or sports. Your first follow‑up appointment will be within 5–7 days to assess swelling and cast position.
Schedule the first postoperative visit within 5–7 days to evaluate the cast and X‑rays. A second visit at 3–4 weeks allows for removal of the cast and pins and application of a removable splint. A third visit about 6 weeks after cast removal monitors range of motion and ensures healing is progressing.
When the cast is removed at 3–4 weeks, your child will receive a sling or removable long‑arm splint and should begin gentle elbow range‑of‑motion exercises several times a day. Physical therapy is usually not required but may be considered if motion is limited. Normal elbow motion usually returns within about four weeks after cast removal (around eight weeks from injury). Your child may return to school and light activities when comfortable and cleared by the surgeon.
Most children recover fully about two months (8 weeks) after surgery. Supracondylar fractures often heal within 4 weeks, but regaining full elbow motion can take an additional month. Heavy lifting and sports should be avoided until the surgeon confirms that strength and motion have returned to normal, typically around eight weeks after injury.