Recently, Tongtong (a pseudonym), a 7-year-old child, suffered a fracture of the ulnar and radial bones in his left forearm due to an accident. He visited multiple hospitals, but all were told that surgery was necessary. The family, after much inquiry, came to Yantai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Zhang Weidong from the Department of Orthopedics used traditional Chinese bone-setting techniques to successfully reset the fracture for Tongtong, sparing him from undergoing surgery.

That day, as usual, Tongtong was doing daily exercise training at the Taekwondo gym. But while doing somersaults, his body suddenly lost balance and he fell heavily to the ground. Instantly, a piercing pain spread from his left arm, causing him to cry uncontrollably.
The parents and teachers quickly took Tongtong to a nearby hospital. After examination, Tongtong's fracture was significantly misaligned, presenting a 90° bending deformity. It was diagnosed as a fracture of the distal end of the ulnar and radial bones. This news made the parents of Tongtong extremely anxious. Considering that the child was still young but had to endure the pain of surgery, they felt extremely worried. Finally, with the suggestion of a friend, they came to our hospital.
After the doctor, Dr. Zhang Weidong, received Tongtong, he quickly conducted an examination. He gently held the child's injured arm and carefully touched the fracture site, while carefully studying the X-ray. He did not miss any key information about the fracture displacement, angulation, position of the bone fragments, and separation. After a comprehensive analysis, he told the child's family, "We don't need surgery. We can use traditional Chinese bone-setting techniques to reset the fracture, and the child can be cured." After hearing the doctor's treatment plan, the parents' furrowed brows finally relaxed.
After saying this, Dr. Zhang gently wiped the child's tears from his cheeks and comforted him softly, "Tongtong, don't be afraid. Believe in me, and you'll stop hurting soon." His words were like warm sunshine, dispelling the child's fear and unease, and gradually stopping his crying. In the operating room, the anesthesiologist gave the child a small dose of anesthesia, and Dr. Zhang skillfully performed a series of operations such as traction, pressing, and straightening on the child's arm. Each movement strictly followed the principles of "steady, accurate, gentle, and fast," precisely grasping the position and mechanical relationship of the fracture site, and minimizing discomfort during the operation to avoid secondary damage to the fracture site.

With a crisp "click," the displaced fracture site was successfully reset. Tongtong's distorted face instantly relaxed, and he immediately noticed that his fingers could move slightly. After the fracture site was reset, a fine Kirschner wire was used for minimally invasive fixation to maintain the stability of the fracture ends. Later, an X-ray was taken, and the results showed good alignment of the fracture, and the child's arm function basically returned to normal. At this moment, the parents, who had been holding their breath all along, finally felt relieved and showed a relieved smile, expressing their endless gratitude and admiration for Dr. Zhang.
"Considering that the child is only 7 years old, it's a time when he loves to be active. If surgery is used, it would require a long recovery period, which would undoubtedly be a restraint on the child's playful nature. Moreover, children have a greater ability for growth and shaping, so we can use this method. Compared to surgical treatment, traditional Chinese bone-setting techniques cost less, cause less pain, and have a faster recovery, and the prognosis is good. For a child like Tongtong, this is undoubtedly the best solution," Dr. Zhang said.
The successful reset of Tongtong's fracture demonstrated the unique charm of traditional Chinese medical methods in the modern medical system. Traditional Chinese medical methods represented by bone-setting techniques provide patients with more treatment options and bring hope for recovery. Our hospital always adheres to the idea of inheritance and innovation, continuously explores the potential of traditional medicine, combines modern medical concepts, and enables traditional Chinese medical methods to play a role in the treatment of more diseases, bringing health benefits to patients.