What is a green wood fracture?
A greenwood fracture is a type of bone fracture that occurs only in children. Since children’s bones are structurally different from adults’ bones, they often show a different fracture pattern. The bone of a child is still very flexible and has a much thicker periosteum. It is therefore comparable to the structure of young woods (green wood), hence the name green wood fracture. In case of a bone fracture, the bone breaks, similar to a young branch, only partially, but not completely.
The causes
The causes for green wood fractures are very diverse. For example, a fall on an outstretched arm can be enough to cause a fracture of the bone. Frequently, a sudden jerky twisting of arms or legs, as can happen when playing or romping, can also be the cause of the fracture.
Greenwood fractures in children are also not uncommon in accidents during sports or traffic accidents. The reason for the incomplete fracture of the bone is, as already mentioned, the special structure of the child’s bone. While the bones hardly differ from adult bones on the outside, the internal structure is the decisive point.
The bones of adults are brittle and often break through completely when force is applied. In contrast, children’s bones react differently to heavy loads. They can compensate for part of the force due to their extraordinary elasticity and flexibility and therefore break only incompletely. Only the stretched side of the bone breaks, the compressed side remains intact.
Where does a green wood fracture occur?
Greenwood fractures occur mainly on the long tubular bones of children and adolescents, as these are still growing. These bones include not only the upper arm and thigh bones but also the bones of the forearms (ulna and radius) and lower legs (shin and calf). The ulna and radius are particularly frequently affected: Up to a quarter of all fractures of the forearm bones in children are greenwood fractures.
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