A Story of Hope, Healing and a Little Bookworm Named Aksel

Earlier this year, 6-year-old Aksel fractured his forearm while playing baseball.

“Playing is a strong word,” his mom, Maria, said jokingly. “His dad and I are athletes, so we signed Aksel up for baseball thinking it might be in the blood, but we have a little bookworm instead.” Every librarian within a 40-mile radius knows him by name and his favorite book.

Fractures of the forearm are the most common fractures in children. They often occur from a fall onto an outstretched hand, a direct blow or wheeled activities like biking or skateboarding. Fortunately, most pediatric forearm fractures can be treated without surgery because children's bones heal faster than adults, especially in children under 8, thanks to their high potential to remodel or reshape.

Aksel’s journey started at a local emergency room (ER). The ER team attempted a reduction – a process of realigning the bone – but it was unsuccessful. They placed his arm in a splint and referred him to Shriners Children’s New England for specialized care.

“At Aksel’s age, the acceptable angulation for a midshaft forearm fracture is less than 20 degrees,” said nurse practitioner Cameron Card, FNP. “It’s likely to remodel or straighten on its own as it heals, but Aksel’s was at 25 degrees, so intervention was recommended. If left untreated, it could have led to permanent deformity, decreased range of motion and impaired function.”

At Shriners Children’s, Cameron performed a closed reduction in the outpatient facility with assistance from athletic trainer Jon Reidy. This technique involved placing Aksel’s arm in a cast, applying direct pressure at the point of angulation and using counterpressure to realign the bone. It’s a delicate process, but one that can often prevent the need for surgery.