Greenstick Fractures Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Greenstick fractures Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What are Greenstick Fractures?


A greenstick fracture occurs when a bone bends and cracks, instead of breaking completely into separate pieces. Therefore it is called incomplete broken bone.



Mild greenstick fractures sometimes are thought to be sprains, although they too may require casts.

Causes of Greenstick Fractures:

Greenstick fractures occur when the force applied to a bone results in bending of the bone such that the structural integrity of the convex surface is overcome.

The fact that the integrity of the cortex has been overcome results in fracture of the convex surface. However, the bending force applied does not break the bone completely and the concave surface of the bent bone remains intact.

This can occur following an angulated longitudinal force applied down the bone (e.g. an indirect trauma following a fall on an outstretched arm), or after a force applied perpendicular to the bone (e.g. a direct blow).

This fracture is very different, and much less common, than the torus fracture that results in buckling of the cortex on the concave side of the bend and an intact concave surface.

Childhood fractures most commonly occur with a fall. The impact of the fall results in either greenstick fractures, or depending on the force, a complete fracture in that region.

Arm fractures are more common than leg fractures, since the usual reaction is to throw out one’s arms when one starts to fall.

Symptoms of Greenstick Fractures:



Diagnosis of Greenstick Fracture:

Greenstick fracture is diagnosed via:

  • Physical examination
  1. Doctor will inspect the affected area for tenderness, swelling, deformity or an open wound.
  2. The child will be asked to gently move that limb’s fingers or toes.
  • X-rays

Treatment of Greenstick Fracture:

Greenstick fractures are usually treated via putting a cast to keep the bones in good alignment while the break heals.


The doctor may insert a removable splint.

Once the cast is removed, one should avoid high impact activities for a few weeks.

By : Natural Health News

Newsletter Powered By :