According to data from the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, broken bones in babies may heal as quickly as three weeks in some cases, while other fractures can last up to ten weeks. The recovery period for certain broken and fractured bones depends on a number of factors, including:
- The severity of the break. If certain bones are severely broken, such as growth plates, the injury may never heal correctly. For minor fractures, the child’s body may heal itself fairly quickly without outside intervention.
- The child’s age. Since babies grow very rapidly, this can further complicate the healing process and potentially lead to deformities. Generally, the older a person is, the longer they may take to recover from a broken bone.
- The area of the body where the break occurred. If the broken bone is in an area directly related to a child’s growth, he or she may experience developmental delays. For example, if a child suffers a broken shoulder, the affected arm may grow to be shorter than the other.
If you find yourself asking, “How long do babies bones take to heal?” you may want to seek the opinion of a medical professional. By determining the root cause of the injury, examining the effect the injury may have on the surrounding areas, you may be able to better gauge your child’s timeline for recovery.
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Causes of Broken Bones in Newborns
Bone fractures in babies can be caused by obesity in the mother, underlying medical conditions in the newborn, and injuries sustained during birth. Common causes of birth injuries can include:
- Cephalopelvic disproportion. In these cases, the mother’s pelvic region is not large enough to birth a child naturally. Thus, the attending physicians should forgo a traditional birth for a cesarean section (C-section).
- Prolonged or difficult childbirth. Also known as dystocia, periods of difficult labor can have traumatic impacts on a newborn’s body, including fractures and nerve damage.
- Abnormally large newborns. Medically, these at-risk babies are defined as weighing over 8 pounds, 13 ounces. The larger the newborn, the more likely there will be birth complications, especially if the presiding medical staff does not call for a C-section as needed.
- Inappropriate birthing positions. Irregular positions in the birth canal can leave the baby vulnerable to trauma. This is often the case with babies born feet-first or buttocks-first, otherwise known as a breech delivery.
- Babies born prematurely. These newborns are naturally more susceptible to broken bones due to their lack of development. These injuries appear commonly in babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Further, birth injuries can occur from rough handling practices, including medical staff pulling on the newborn’s head or inappropriately using forceps during the birthing process. All of these factors may be the result of medical negligence, either through the direct action of the medical staff, or through their inaction.
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The Most Common Broken Bone Seen in Infants
Data from the Stanford Children’s Health organization shows that the clavicle, or collarbone, is the most commonly broken bones in infants. As newborn children begin healing quickly, you may notice a bump on the affected area, detailing the growth of new bone and tissue.
These fractures can occur for several reasons, including:
- The baby’s shoulder became stuck against the pelvis during a breech delivery.
- The use of birthing aids, such as forceps or vacuum-extraction machines.
- Periods of prolonged delivery, which likely could have been avoided with medical intervention.
If you believe a medical professional was responsible for causing your child’s injury, an attorney may be able to help you take legal action against the negligent party.
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Birth Injury Lawyers Fighting for You and Your Loved Ones
Here at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we believe no parent should have to ask, “How long do babies bones take to heal?” because of an instance of medical malpractice.
If your child’s injuries were caused by medical negligence, we will fight to gather evidence that reveals the truth and helps you prove your case. In addition to offering legal counsel throughout your proceedings, we can handle all the time-consuming paperwork and legal hurdles you may be facing.
You do not have to shoulder this burden alone. Damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits may help you recover numerous types of losses, including economic hardships, and non-economic suffering.
For more information about how our attorneys will fight to protect your right to compensation, contact a team member at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today for your free consultation at (800) 222-9529.
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