In this pamphlet, you can read about hospital procedure when your child has broken their arm or leg and needs an operation.

Your child needs an operation

A broken bone rarely requires surgery on the day of the accident. An operation is therefore usually scheduled for one of the following days. This means you can stay home until the day of the operation.

☐ The operation is scheduled for: 
______ day /_______

Arrive at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine admissions (Børne- og Ungemodtagelsen) at _____.    

☐ You will be contacted regarding the date and time.
You will also be told when your child needs to start fasting. If you have not been contacted within two weekdays, please contact the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine’s admissions at +(45) 38 62 31 79 between 08:00-15:00.

Preparation from home

Your child may not eat for six hours before the operation, but they may drink water or cordial until one hour before the operation.

Your child must fast from ______ and not drink from _______

We recommend that your child drinks one glass of cordial one hour before they must stop drinking. You can give your child painkillers with a little sip of water when they are fasting/not drinking.

Pain

It is important that your child’s broken arm/leg is positioned correctly and elevated to avoid swelling and pain. Use a pillow or similar under their arm or leg.

It is also important that your child is not in pain. You can give them painkillers if required. The following painkillers are recommended:

Paracetamol (Panodil or Pinex)

☐ Tablet_______ mg
☐ Mixture_____ mg/ml
☐ Suppository______ mg
Dose______ x_______ daily

Ibuprofen (Ipren, Burana, Ibumetin)

☐ Tablet ______mg
☐ Mixture ______ mg/ml
Dose ______x ______daily

Other

☐ Tablet ______mg
☐ Mixture ______mg/ml
☐ Suppository______ mg
Dose ______x ______daily

Contact us

Contact the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine’s admissions at +(45) 38 62 31 79 if your child is in so much pain that you cannot treat it at home or if you have questions concerning treatment or need to contact the hospital before the operation.

On the day of the operation

Remove makeup, nail varnish, piercings or acrylic nails before coming to the hospital.

If you have not yet spoken to the anesthesiologist, go to Section 438 (Centre 4, outpatient floor) at 08:00 on the day of the operation.

You should then go to the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine's admission, Section 411 (Centre 4, 1st floor). You will be met by a nurse, who will help prepare your child for the operation.

Your child will be given a local anaesthetic by a nurse. A local anaesthetic cream will be applied to the back of both hands if possible, but otherwise to the back of one hand and to the inners side of an elbow.

Your child will be given hospital clothing to wear and placed in a hospital bed.

Your child should urinate just before we escort you to the operating theatre. One of the parents can enter the operating theatre and remain there until the child is asleep.

Bring some form of entertainment

We try to avoid unnecessary waiting time and cancellations, but unforeseen situations can unfortunately occur, causing us to postpone planned operations. We therefore recommend bringing some form of entertainment for your child, such as a tablet.

After the operation

After the operation, your child will be brought back to the department. We will make sure they are well, can urinate normally, can eat and that any pain is sufficiently managed. You child will have an x-ray taken to ensure that the bones are in the right place under the plaster cast.

When discharged, you will be told how long the cast will have to stay on and to come in for a check-up. You will be given a pamphlet with information on exercises your child can do to avoid swelling and who you should contact in the event of complications, e.g. irritation from the cast.