Childhood accidents and injuries that may require surgery

Running around and playing is part of being a kid, and bumps and bruises happen all the time. But sometimes typical play can lead to more serious accidents or injuries.

Barbara Gaines, M.D., Pediatric Surgeon and Surgeon in Chief at Children's Health℠, shares injuries she sees often, signs your child needs medical care and injuries in kids that may require surgery.

“Kids need to play, that’s what being a kid is all about,” Dr. Gaines says. “Accidents happen, but there are some simple things parents can do so play doesn’t necessarily lead to an injury, and guidelines for how to know if a child might need medical care.”

Childhood injuries that may require medical care

There are plenty of childhood injuries that don’t lead to surgery, but they may require families to seek urgent or emergency care.

Falls

Falls are the most common injury in kids and teens.

“Kids fall down stairs, they fall off a bike or playground equipment,” Dr. Gaines says. “Fortunately, most of those falls don’t lead to an injury that requires surgery.”

Two things can make falls more likely to lead to a serious injury:

• Moving at a fast speed. When a child falls from something with a motor, like an electric scooter or ATV, injury is more likely.

• Traffic. When a child falls off a bike or scooter and there’s lots of traffic around, the risk of serious injury is higher than if they fell in an area without cars and other vehicles.

Car accidents

Using seat belts and proper car seats can help reduce the risk of serious injury in a car accident. If your child has been in a car accident, even if it seems minor, they should see a doctor.

Swallowed objects

Kid commonly swallow objects, like coins or Legos, by accident. They can usually pass them through the body without causing problems but call your pediatrician if your child swallows an object.

Swallowing small button batteries, sharp objects or magnets can lead to more serious problems and should be evaluated by a doctor.

Burns

Small burns can usually be managed at home, but burns that are large, blistering or affect sensitive areas like the face or hands should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Deep cuts

Minor cuts can often be treated at home, but seek medical care if a cut is deep, won’t stop bleeding or it came from a dirty or rusty object or an animal bite.

Signs an injury requires medical attention

In addition to the type of injury, certain symptoms can signal that your child needs medical attention:

• Saying or seeming like they’re in severe pain. Younger kids may be very upset and difficult to calm down, while older kids may say their pain is very bad.

• Having a bone that looks bent or out of place.

• Vomiting (especially if their vomit is green, which can signal a problem with the intestines).

• Seeming confused or having trouble staying awake.

• Looking unusually pale and sweaty, which can be an early sign that their body isn’t getting enough blood flow to support their organs (shock).

• Bleeding that doesn't stop after putting pressure on the area for 10-15 minutes.

Injuries that may require surgery in kids

Some fractures (broken bones) need surgery, although many do not. A fracture may require surgery if:

• The bones are out of place

• The injury affects the growth plate

• The break extends into a joint

• It’s a supracondylar fracture, a common break just above the elbow that often happens when a child falls on an outstretched arm.

“If a kid is referred to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon for something that seems pretty routine, it's often because it's a supracondylar fracture or because it’s a fracture that impacts the growth plate,” Dr. Gaines says.

Severe ACL and meniscus tears as well as shoulder dislocations that don’t get better with conservative treatments may also require surgery.

A child may also need surgery for traumatic injuries (like severe injuries after a motor vehicle accident) or, occasionally, after swallowing an object.

Tips for preventing common injuries and accidents in kids

A few ways parents can reduce the risk of injuries and accidents include:

• Make sure children wear protective gear, such as helmets and pads, when riding bikes or scooters, skateboarding or doing other activities where falls are possible.

• Check that equipment like shoes, helmets and bikes are in good condition and the right size.

• Take your children to play and ride bikes and scooters away from traffic as much as possible. Consider your local park or playground.

• Look around the playground equipment before your child plays to make sure nothing looks broken or unsafe.

• If your child uses motorized equipment like scooters or ATVs, make sure they understand how to operate it safely.

“If kids are going to use motorized equipment, taking a safety course beforehand can help them use it more safely – just like how teenagers take driver’s ed before getting their license," Dr. Gaines says.

Learn more

For more tips to prevent common accidents and injuries in kids, visit childrens.com/injuryprevention.

If your child is scheduled to have an upcoming surgery at Children’s Health, find more information on what to expect, how to prepare your child for surgery and keep your child comfortable at childrens.com/SurgeryDay (available in English and Spanish).