Greenstick fractures

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition Symptoms Causes

Tests and diagnosis Treatments and drugs Prevention

Definition

A child's bones are softer and more flexible than those of an adult, so they're more likely to bend than to break completely. This flexibility can result in a greenstick fracture, in which the bone cracks but doesn't break all the way through — like when you try to break a green stick of wood.

Most broken bones in children are greenstick fractures. These fractures can be more difficult to diagnose, because they may not cause all the classic signs and symptoms of a broken bone.

NEXT:

Symptoms