1. Bend It Like a Twig
A greenstick fracture is an incomplete break in a child's bone. Children's bones are more pliable than adults are so they can bend, causing a break on just one side of the bone. It gets its name from green sticks of wood or young branches on a plant. Most greenstick fractures occur to the arm, and the bone usually is bent and rotated.
2. A Broken Branch
The area may appear swollen and it hurts when touched. Your child's limb may not be able to withstand any weight being applied to it, and she probably can't move it. This usually indicates a fracture and not a sprain. There may have been a grinding sound at the time of injury, and the area may look slightly deformed.
3. Visit the Doctor for Tests
Take your child to the doctor for an x-ray to confirm if the limb is broken. However, the bone and the break may not show clearly due to the softness of the bone. The doctor may x-ray the other limb and then compare the two x-rays for differences. A CT scan can show the limb in greater detail since it depicts the bones vertically and horizontally. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create a visual image of the bone.
4. Hold Still
The treatment plan takes into account your child's medical history, age, severity of the fracture and your own input. The doctor may break the bone all the way through or maneuver the bone back into place. A cast or splint keeps the limb still, so that the bone can heal without further injury. Children's fractures heal more quickly than adults'. Your child may be required to wear the cast for 3 to 6 weeks. Keep the cast dry if it and the lining aren't water resistant.
5. Practice Prevention
Build your child's bones to prevent greenstick fractures in the future. Get him outside to play and move around when it's warm and find indoor activities in the winter. Your child should wear a helmet, elbow pads and kneepads when bike riding, skating or playing sports. She should drink milk and eat other dairy products to increase calcium stores. Make sure she wears a seat belt or uses a car seat while riding in the car. Stair gates prevent toddlers from tumbling down the stairs.
