Peidatrics Case 6 Background

Greenstick Fracture

A greenstick fracture is an incomplete long bone fracture with cortical disruption and periosteal tearing on the convex side of angulation with plastic deformation and intact periosteum on the concave side. This is almost exclusively seen in children. Adult bone is solid (cancellous) bone and fractures completely rather than bowing. Pediatric bone is more porous, giving it the ability to bow and incompletely fracture.