Greenstick Fracture in Children: Causes and Treatment

Fractures and broken bones in children result from a variety of different accidents. A greenstick fracture in children is the most common type of fracture in this age group. This pediatric greenstick fracture typically involves the long bones and often follows specific greenstick fracture causes such as a slip and fall, a car accident, or any twisting motion. A fall can cause a child’s bone to bend further than it is able to, causing it to break. Many children are injured when they attempt to brace themselves from falling and extend their hand straight out, often resulting in a greenstick fracture forearm. Such a fracture normally occurs to the bones in the forearm or to the leg bones and is considered one of the pediatric long bone fractures. Besides a fall, blunt trauma such as a blow to a leg can also cause this type of injury. For your child, a greenstick fracture can result in severe and chronic pain and will require immediate medical treatment. If your child has suffered a greenstick fracture as a result of an accident or another person’s negligence, the attorneys at the law offices of Frank J. Dito, Jr. can help you.

Greenstick fractures most commonly occur in the long bones, which are the bones in the arms and the legs.

There are three main bones in the arm:

Humerus- the bone between the shoulder and elbow
Radius– the bone between the elbow and wrist
Ulna- the bone between the elbow and wrist,

There are four main bones in the leg:

Femur — the bone between the hip and the knee
Patella — the kneecap
Tibia — the larger of the 2 leg bones between the knee and the foot
Fibula — the smaller of the two leg bones between the knee and the foot

Some of the most common types of fractures involving children that I see in my office are greenstick fractures. This fracture only occurs in children as a child’s bones are much softer than an adult’s, which gives them the ability to grow. As you age and stop growing, the calcium in your bone hardens. Since a child’s bones are so soft, they snap like a fresh branch on a tree. You will notice that part of the twig breaks, generally not very cleanly, while the other side stays whole, although it may be stressed from the bending process. The fracture commonly happens in the long bones of the body, generally the legs or the arms. It doesn’t usually penetrate the entire width of the bone, as it is usually limited to one side.

What is the treatment for a greenstick fracture?

Greenstick fracture treatment typically requires reducing the fracture by gently realigning the bone. To make sure that the fracture heals properly, your doctor will put your child’s affected limb into a cast, immobilizing it so that the bone can heal; a greenstick fracture cast helps maintain alignment. The good news is that greenstick fracture healing time is often very quick, and these fractures are usually not as painful as some other types of fractures, especially after the fracture has been reduced. Sometimes, anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to bring down swelling at the fracture site. If the pain is severe, your doctor may advise you give your child Tylenol or Motrin.

If your child has suffered a greenstick fracture, make sure that they receive appropriate medical care with an orthopedist; maintain a record of your child’s medical treatment; avoid speaking with any insurance adjusters before you speak to a personal injury attorney; and if your child has suffered a bone injury or this fracture, you need the advice of an experienced Staten Island, New York personal injury attorney. Call Frank J. Dito, Jr. today at (718) 701-2776 for your free consultation

Q&A

Question: What is a greenstick fracture, and why is it common in children?

Short answer: A greenstick fracture is a break that typically affects only one side of a child’s bone, much like how a fresh tree branch snaps on one side while the other side bends. It occurs only in children because their bones are softer and still growing; as people age and stop growing, bones harden with calcium and are less likely to bend this way. Greenstick fractures are the most common fractures in children and usually do not penetrate the full width of the bone.

Question: Which bones are most often affected by greenstick fractures?

Short answer: Greenstick fractures most commonly occur in the long bones of the arms and legs and often involve the forearm or leg bones. The arm bones are the humerus (shoulder to elbow), radius (elbow to wrist), and ulna (elbow to wrist). The main bones in the leg are the femur (hip to knee), patella (kneecap), tibia (larger lower-leg bone), and fibula (smaller lower-leg bone).

Question: What typically causes a greenstick fracture in children?

Short answer: Common causes include slips and falls, car accidents, twisting motions, and blunt trauma such as a direct blow to a leg. Many children sustain a forearm greenstick fracture when they try to break a fall by extending an arm straight out, causing the bone to bend beyond its limit and partially break.

Question: How are greenstick fractures treated, and what is the recovery like?

Short answer: Treatment usually involves gently realigning the bone (reduction) and immobilizing the limb in a cast to maintain alignment while healing. Healing time is often very quick compared to other fractures, and pain is usually less severe after the fracture is reduced. Doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling, and for pain relief they may advise Tylenol or Motrin.

Question: What should I do if my child’s greenstick fracture was caused by an accident or someone’s negligence?

Short answer: Ensure your child receives appropriate care from an orthopedist, keep thorough records of all medical treatment, and avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before consulting a personal injury attorney. If the injury occurred in Staten Island, New York, you can contact the Law Offices of Frank J. Dito, Jr. at (718) 701-2776 for a free consultation.