Six-year-old Austin Jackson with the surgeons (l. to r. ) who cared for his broken arm: Steven Kelley, M.D.; Brian Yost, D.O.; Wade Faerber, D.O.; and John Ellis, M.D.

At six years old, Austin Jackson is already an avid Motocross fan, with those racing stars among his biggest heroes. Last September, he even presented his first Motocross trophy -- not to a rider, but to fellow Motocross fan Brian Yost, D.O., an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Rancho Springs Medical Center. The trophy was a thank you to Dr. Yost for bringing Austin safely through one of the most harrowing rides of his young life: surgery for a badly broken arm.

In May 2006, Austin broke his left arm and Dr. Yost immobilized it in a cast. By September, Austin's arm had almost healed. Then, he fell and landed on his left arm while playing basketball. This injury was more severe -- in addition to reopening the fracture, the bones snapped in two other places.

Dr. Yost made three small incisions in Austin's arm and, guided by X-rays, implanted flexible rods through the center of both arm bones. The rods helped maintain the bones' alignment, increased blood supply and eased the healing process. The rods stayed in place for six months before being removed.

"He came through both surgeries beautifully," Dr. Yost says. Although the bones took months to mend completely, he notes that the process was much faster than it would have been for an adult.

Austin's father, Mark, says that his son also weathered the emotional ordeal with flying colors. "We were very up front with him about what was going to happen in the hospital, and although he was nervous, he took everything unbelievably well. He knew that we had great trust in Dr. Yost and the entire staff, and that helped keep him calm."

What to Do If Your Child Breaks a Bone
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, fractures are the fourth most common injury among children younger than age six. If you think your child has a fracture, promptly take the following steps:

• Use an improvised sling or a rolled-up newspaper or magazine as a splint to immobilize the limb until you get to the hospital.
• Do not give your child anything to eat, drink or to relieve pain before consulting a doctor. You can use a cold pack or cold towel to help relieve discomfort.
• If you suspect a broken leg, do not try to move your child; call an ambulance.
• If the injury is open and bleeding, or if bone is protruding through the skin, place firm pressure on the wound and cover it with clean (ideally, sterile) gauze. Do not try to put the bone back underneath the skin.

To help treat your children's bumps and bruises, please visit www.swhcs.com. In the left column, click on the following in this order: "Health Information," "Your Family,," "Children's Health" and "Children and Healthcare."

Inland Valley Medical Center 36485 Inland Valley Drive, Wildomar, CA 92595 (951) 677-1111 Rancho Springs Medical Center 25500 Medical Center Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 (951) 696-6000