Greenstick fracture occurs when a bone bends and cracks, but doesn’t break all the way — like what happens when you bend a green stick of wood. Most broken bones in children are greenstick fractures because children’s bones are softer and more flexible than are those of adults. Greenstick fractures are caused by a bending force such as when one tries to break a soft branch. The fracture looks similar to what happens when you try to break a small, “green” branch on a tree.
Most greenstick fractures occur in children younger than 10 years of age. This type of broken bone most commonly occurs in children because their bones are softer and more flexible than are the bones of adults.
Greenstick fracture healing time:
Greenstick fractures in young kids can heal as quickly as 3 weeks.
Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the greenstick fracture. Mild fractures might be mistaken for sprains or bruises. More-severe greenstick fractures may cause an obvious deformity, accompanied by significant pain and swelling.
