Wrist fracture in children
Wrist fractures in children are usually – unlike in adults – so-called greenwood fractures. This type of fracture is characterized by the fact that only an incomplete bone fracture is present, since only the internal bone structure breaks, but the outer periosteum that envelops the bone remains intact. This type of fracture – also known as a flexural fracture – occurs primarily in the long tubular bones of growing children, as the bone substance in these children has not yet hardened and is therefore still elastic and deformable.The forces acting on a wrist fracture cause the cortex of the bone to break on one side of the bone, while on the other side it only gives way and is deformed by deformation.
The periosteum, which always remains intact, prevents the fractured bone parts from shifting, thus enabling conservative therapy in most cases. In most cases, it is sufficient to immobilize the child’s forearm with a plaster splint and the fracture can heal in peace without any consequences. If, however, there are bone bends of more than 20° within the framework of the greenwood fracture, it is also possible that the spoke bone may have to be repositioned under anesthesia or even surgically straightened.
