Greenstick Fractures
Original Editor - Nupur Smit Shah
Top Contributors - Nupur Smit Shah, Esraa Mohamed Abdullzaher, Olaniyan Victor, Kim Jackson, Wanda van Niekerk and Lucinda hampton
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Green stick fractures occurs in the children below 10 years of age. There is partial thickness fracture where only cortex and periosteum gets affected on one side of the bone and it remains uninterrupted on the other side of the bone.[1]Usually happens in long bones such as radius, ulna, femur, tibia, humerus. Green stick fractures are unstable and they continue to displace after first 2 weeks.[2]
Etiology[edit | edit source]
Mechanism of injury is fall on the outstretched hand(FOOSH). It can also occur because of trauma such as road traffic accident, sports injuries or even a non accidental trauma (child hitting an object).[1]Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to greenstick fracture.[1]
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Fractures are the most common musculoskeletal injuries. It is most found in children below 10 years of age. It is less commonly seen in adults. The incidence rate among male and female is the the same.[1]
Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]
Green stick fractures occur in arm and forearm which involves ulna, radius or humerus. Less commonly it occurs on face , chest and scapula. The diaphysis and metaphysis are calcified in adult population and its weak in children leading to greenstick ,torus and plastic bending injuries. Greenstick fractures occurs anywhere in diaphysis and metaphysis but if the fracture is at the level of physis, it is no longer a green stick fracture.[1]
History and Physical Examination[edit | edit source]
It is similar to any other fracture. Age, location, involvement of the soft tissue , gender and mechanism of injury, neurovascular status are important features of history and examination.
Pain on palpation, reduced range of motion and ecchymosis over injured part , edema, abrasion , laceration are the findings of physical examination.[1]
