![]() (Courtesy of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children) This child’s forearm fracture has resulted in a bent appearance of the forearm. Your child’s forearm and hand may also feel numb. In most cases, a broken forearm causes severe pain. Usually these fractures affect the growth plate of the radius near the wrist. Also called a physeal fracture, this fracture occurs at or across the growth plate. This is a very severe injury and requires urgent care. There is usually a fracture in the ulna and the top (head) of the radius is dislocated. The injury affects both bones of the forearm. There is usually a displaced fracture in the radius and a dislocation of the ulna at the wrist, where the radius and ulna come together. The fracture extends through a portion of the bone, causing it to bend on the other side. The fracture is across the upper, or lower, portion of the shaft of the bone and does not affect the growth plate. ![]() This is a stable fracture and the broken pieces of bone have not separated apart (displaced). The topmost layer of bone on one side of the bone is compressed, causing the other side to bend away from the growth plate. But if a child falls onto an outstretched arm, he or she might break one or both of the bones in the forearm. About three out of four forearm fractures in children involve the wrist-end of the radius.Ĭhildren love to run, hop, skip, jump and tumble. If you suspect a fracture, you should obtain prompt medical attention for the child so that the bones can be set for proper healing.įorearm fractures account for 40% to 50% of all childhood fractures. They help determine the length and shape of the mature bone.įractures in a child’s bones begin to heal much more quickly than an adult’s bones. Growth plates are made of cartilage near the ends of children’s bones. If you hold your arm naturally by your side, the ulna is the bone closer to you and the radius is farther away.įractures of the forearm can occur near the wrist at the farthest (distal) end of the bone, in the middle of the forearm, or near the elbow at the top (proximal) end of the bone.Ī child’s bones are also subject to a unique injury called a growth plate fracture. A torus is the convex portion of the upper part of the base of a Greek column and resembles the appearance of the cortical buckling seen in the "column" of bone which has been fractured in the pattern discussed in this article.The bones of the forearm are the radius and the ulna. The term torus is the Latin word meaning protuberance. Sometimes a cast may be applied, but often a splint is all that is required with a period of rest and immobilization. ![]() They are self-limiting and typically do not require operative intervention, although a manipulation may be required if the angulation is severe. In some cases, angulation is the only diagnostic clue Subtle deformity or buckle of the cortex may be evident This most commonly occurs at the distal radius or tibia following a fall on an outstretched arm the force is transmitted from carpus to the distal radius and the point of least resistance fractures, usually the dorsal cortex of the distal radius. Cortical buckle fractures occur when there is axial loading of a long bone.
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