Bone Characteristics
Fractures in children have some unique characteristics. The psychological and physical trauma aside, children also need to cope with any effects of the trauma on their future growth. The biomechanical characteristics of the growing skeleton are different [2].
Children’s bones:
- Are less brittle, more malleable
- Allow a plastic type of ‘bowing’ injury
This may lead to:
A subtle bow to a bone (plastic deformation)
Fig 1: Plastic ‘bowing’ fracture
An incomplete fracture (greenstick) fracture
Fig 2: Greenstick fracture
Buckle fractures
Fig 3: Buckle fracture
All occur more often in children than adults.