Fractures and Bone Healing

Bones that are fractured but do not break all the way through are called greenstick or green fractures. Because the bones of a child are still soft and flexible, they do not crack completely just like when you break a green stick that will bend and crack but will still be attached to the other side. Most greenstick fractures are quite hard to diagnose because unlike adult fractures that can easily show symptoms, children’s greenstick fractures usually do not show any manifestation until the child complains of pains, have a fever and then days passed before symptoms will be appear. Types of Greenstick Fractures There are three basic types of greenstick fractures and these are the following: • Transverse fracture . This occurs in the cortex and goes through the mid-portion of the bone and then stop along the longitudinal axis of the bone without actually damaging the opposite cortex. • Buckling fracture or torus . This fracture is commonly caused by impaction. The bone is crushed straigh...