Broken collarbone--what to do?!

U

unregistered

Guest

• Jun 2, 2010

• #1

My four year old fell and broke her collarbone. She has a harness around both shoulders and sling that keeps her left arm immobile across her chest. We have Radian (up to 65 lbs) but....

Her injury/treatment means that in the five-point harness I have to make it loose to fit underneath the harness...which is not good. Plus the strap lies right over her broken collarbone which is not ideal...

She is 47 lbs...by both weight and height-wise she could be in a high-back booster, and can sit on the passenger side, which allows the seatbelt to go across her right shoulder, avoiding her broken collarbone (although she would still probably have a bit of her left hand under the strap where is goes across her.) Soooo...

which is safer?

I asked the dr today what to do and he was no help (this was the ortho who set her shoulder) ...he said he had no idea..."I just throw them in the car and go"...ummmm....ok....

I whether it is better to have her in an loose-fitting five point (over the break as well) or the generally not-as-safe but in this case better fitting high-back booster that doesn't contact her broken collarbone....

Help!! And thanks!

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #2

Oh my, please use the booster! A correctly used seat for a child who is old enough and large enough to use it is by FAR preferable to a misused seat that may not even protect the child in an accident.

 

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NVMBR02

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #3

I agree 100%. Use the booster. :thumbsup:

I hope your daughter heals quickly!

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #4

yes, a booster for sure. poor girl, that sounds like it was quite the break.

 

U

Unregistered

Guest

• Jun 2, 2010

• #5

Thanks so much! This is what I thought so I went and bought a high-back booster today, but just wanted it confirmed! Want her to be as safe as possible!

 

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cerberusdog

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #6

Talk with your pediatrician about it, but at our children's hospital we would recommend a booster if the child meets the requirements.

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #7

cerberusdog said:

Talk with your pediatrician about it, but at our children's hospital we would recommend a booster if the child meets the requirements.

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Actually, no, she shouldn't talk to her pediatrician about it. Pediatricians are notoriously lousy sources of information about correct and safe child restraint use. She should speak to a child passenger safety professional, which is exactly what she has done by posting here.

 

C

cerberusdog

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #8

Maedze said:

Actually, no, she shouldn't talk to her pediatrician about it. Pediatricians are notoriously lousy sources of information about correct and safe child restraint use. She should speak to a child passenger safety professional, which is exactly what she has done by posting here.

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Well sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone, I just meant that an her pediatrician would be able to offer her better info than her ortho doc regarding seat use and her childs injuries. And my pediatrician office has several of the docs that are certified techs and work with our passenger safety program at the childrens hospital

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #9

cerberusdog said:

Well sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone, I just meant that an her pediatrician would be able to offer her better info than her ortho doc regarding seat use and her childs injuries. And my pediatrician office has several of the docs that are certified techs and work with our passenger safety program at the childrens hospital

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You haven't offended anyone

But again, no, her pediatrician isn't necessarily going to offer her better information. It's absolutely fantastic that your hospital has pediatricians who are trained as technicians but that is EXTREMELY rare and the chances that the OP's pediatrician knows any more about child passenger safety than the average parent is slim to none.

In fact, it's much more likely that not only will the doctor not know a good answer, that she'll get bad or dangerous advice because the doctor wants to be helpful.

As a technician, I can assure you that parents routinely get absolutely awful advice from their pediatricians about child restraint use (and it's actually one of the most annoying things I have to deal with. "But my doctor said!!!)

 

libranbutterfly

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #10

cerberusdog said:

Well sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone, I just meant that an her pediatrician would be able to offer her better info than her ortho doc regarding seat use and her childs injuries. And my pediatrician office has several of the docs that are certified techs and work with our passenger safety program at the childrens hospital

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I am glad that your pediatricians are informed Unfortunately that is not the case everywhere, which is why we dont reccomend people talk to their pediatricians.

 

2BunniesMommy

Well-known member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #11

Not a tech, but another booster vote here. Ouch! I hope she is feeling better soon.

 

bobbysgirl7103

New member

• Jun 2, 2010

• #12

Definitely a booster. My son also broke his collarbone when he was 4. He was trying to do a head/hand stand the night before we were leaving for vacation in Florida. He fit good in the HBB with the belt on the side that was OK. I also had to buy him a bunch of button up shirts to make dressing much easier. I have pictures of him on the beach with a sling on.

 

UlrikeDG

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus

• Jun 3, 2010

• #13

My doctor would definitely work with me to find a solution, so I don't think the "talk to your doc" advice is necessarily bad. Just know that most haven't been trained in vehicle safety, so their expertise is more in the physical aspect (e.g., the sling can be moved this way, remove it in the car, don't remove it in the car, etc).

When my DD broke her clavicle, she didn't need a sling, so she was able to ride in her regular 5-point harness. She was younger, and I was told at that age, the sling actually makes it worse, because kids that age won't do stuff that hurts, but they will get frustrated with the sling. If you're concerned that your child won't sit properly in a booster, I'd suggest asking if she can take her arm out of the sling in the car. It's not like she's going to be running, falling, wrestling, etc while strapped in a carseat.