Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSigns and SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionRecoveryWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Signs and Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Recovery
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A buckle fracture is an incomplete fracture where one side of the bone “buckles” or bends on itself; it does not affect the other side of the bone. This type of fracture can occur throughout childhood but is most common between the ages of 7 and 12 years old.
Falling on their outstretched hand is a common way that kids get buckle fractures. For example, if a child gets thrown off their bike or trips while running and breaks the fall with their hand, the force of landing on it can cause a buckle fracture.
This article discusses why children get buckle fractures. You’ll also learn how buckle fractures in kids are diagnosed and treated.
Is a Fracture the Same as a Break?
What Are Buckle Fractures?
Buckle fractures are one of two common incomplete fractures that kids get.
Buckle fractures are also called torus fractures. The word “torus” comes from the Latin wordtori, meaning swelling or protuberance.
Adults don’t usually get buckle fractures because their bones are less elastic than kids' bones. Because a child’sbonesare softer and more flexible, they can withstand more compressing force, which is why “incomplete” fractures occur.An adult bone is more like a porcelain plate that cracks all the way through when it fails.
Although buckle fractures are rare in adults, people withosteoporosishave an increased risk.
Where Do Buckle Fractures Happen Most?
Buckle fractures occur most often in the forearm (radius and ulna), near the wrist, as a result of a child falling on their hands. However, buckle fractures can happen on other long bones, including:
Signs and Symptoms of Buckle Fractures
The most common symptoms of a buckle fracture are pain and swelling.Other signs of a buckle fracture may include:
Signs of a Broken Bone
What Causes Buckle Fractures?
Fifty percent of wrist fractures in children are buckle fractures.
How Buckle Fractures Are Diagnosed
How Providers Check for Broken Bones
Callista Images / Getty Images
How Buckle Fractures Are Treated
Treatment of a buckle fracture usually involves placing a splint on the injured limb. The goal is to ensure that the injured part of the body is immobilized (unable to move) for about three or four weeks so it can heal.Buckle fractures do not require surgery.
Studies have compared casting to splinting for buckle fractures, and it appears that one treatment is not really any better than the other.
What Is a Comminuted Fracture?
Here are some things to consider about a cast for a buckle fracture:
How Casts Fix Broken Bones
Here are some things to consider about asplintfor a buckle fracture:
Deciding on the best treatment for a buckle fracture depends on the injury, the comfort of the child, and the caregiver’s wishes.
What Are Casts Made From?
How to Prevent Buckle Fractures
Although falls can’t always be prevented, there are some safety steps parents and caregivers can take to reduce the risk of injury:
Buckle Fracture Recovery and Long-Term Effects
The success of the treatment will depend on how well a child is able to follow the plan until the injury is healed.
How Long Does a Buckle Fracture Take to Heal?
Buckle fractures typically heal more quickly than greenstick fractures. If your child plays sports, they will need to wait until their provider gives them the “OK” toreturn to play. That might mean sitting on the bench for a while. High-risk activities such as contact sports, or anything with a high risk of falling, should be avoided after injury for a period of up to two months to prevent further injury.
Do Buckle Fractures Cause Long-term Issues?
Most buckle fractures heal completely with no long-term problems. They are not linked to later joint or bone conditions like arthritis.Buckle fractures are not significantly displaced and are notgrowth plate fractures, so they won’t affect the long-term health of a child’s bone.
However, if your child gets a buckle fracture with no known injury or they have more than one buckle fracture, talk to a healthcare provider about it.They might want to do some tests to check your child’s bone and overall health.
Types of Growth Plate Fractures in Kids
If your child shows symptoms of a buckle fracture, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible to have the injury evaluated. Go to the emergency room right away if they’ve had a trauma or experience any of these symptoms:
Summary
A buckle fracture is a common injury in children. Most buckle fractures will get better as long as they are given time to heal. Your child may need to wear a cast or splint for several weeks if they have a buckle fracture. Buckle fractures do not require surgery.
Buckle fractures are not typically a sign that there is something wrong with your child’s bone health and they don’t usually lead to any long-term joint or bone problems.
Why Do Babies Have More Bones Than Adults?
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Pediatric torus buckle fracture.KidsHealth from Nemours.Buckle fractures.KidsHealth Nemours.Greenstick Fractures.American Academy of Pediatrics.Children and broken bones. 2015.Naranje SM, Erali RA, Warner WC Jr, Sawyer JR, Kelly DM.Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States.J Pediatr Orthop. 2016;36(4):e45-e48. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000595Williams BA, Alvarado CA, Montoya-williams DC, Matthias RC, Blakemore LC.Buckling down on torus fractures: has evolving evidence affected practice?.J Child Orthop. 2018;12(2):123-128. doi:10.1302/1863-2548.12.170122Levy J, Ernat J, Song D, Cook JB, Judd D, Shaha S.Outcomes of long-arm casting versus double-sugar-tong splinting of acute pediatric distal forearm fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(1):11-7. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000196Garcia-rodriguez JA, Longino PD, Johnston I.Short arm cast: Casting immobilization series for primary care.Can Fam Physician. 2018;64(10):746-749.Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Distal radius buckle (torus) fracture.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures in children.Ben-yakov M, Boutis K.Buckle fractures of the distal radius in children.CMAJ. 2016;188(7):527. doi:10.1503/cmaj.151239Pandya NK, Upasani VV, Kulkarni VA.The pediatric polytrauma patient: current concepts.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013 Mar;21(3):170-9.University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone densitometry.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Pediatric torus buckle fracture.KidsHealth from Nemours.Buckle fractures.KidsHealth Nemours.Greenstick Fractures.American Academy of Pediatrics.Children and broken bones. 2015.Naranje SM, Erali RA, Warner WC Jr, Sawyer JR, Kelly DM.Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States.J Pediatr Orthop. 2016;36(4):e45-e48. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000595Williams BA, Alvarado CA, Montoya-williams DC, Matthias RC, Blakemore LC.Buckling down on torus fractures: has evolving evidence affected practice?.J Child Orthop. 2018;12(2):123-128. doi:10.1302/1863-2548.12.170122Levy J, Ernat J, Song D, Cook JB, Judd D, Shaha S.Outcomes of long-arm casting versus double-sugar-tong splinting of acute pediatric distal forearm fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(1):11-7. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000196Garcia-rodriguez JA, Longino PD, Johnston I.Short arm cast: Casting immobilization series for primary care.Can Fam Physician. 2018;64(10):746-749.Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Distal radius buckle (torus) fracture.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures in children.Ben-yakov M, Boutis K.Buckle fractures of the distal radius in children.CMAJ. 2016;188(7):527. doi:10.1503/cmaj.151239Pandya NK, Upasani VV, Kulkarni VA.The pediatric polytrauma patient: current concepts.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013 Mar;21(3):170-9.University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone densitometry.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Pediatric torus buckle fracture.KidsHealth from Nemours.Buckle fractures.KidsHealth Nemours.Greenstick Fractures.American Academy of Pediatrics.Children and broken bones. 2015.Naranje SM, Erali RA, Warner WC Jr, Sawyer JR, Kelly DM.Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States.J Pediatr Orthop. 2016;36(4):e45-e48. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000595Williams BA, Alvarado CA, Montoya-williams DC, Matthias RC, Blakemore LC.Buckling down on torus fractures: has evolving evidence affected practice?.J Child Orthop. 2018;12(2):123-128. doi:10.1302/1863-2548.12.170122Levy J, Ernat J, Song D, Cook JB, Judd D, Shaha S.Outcomes of long-arm casting versus double-sugar-tong splinting of acute pediatric distal forearm fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(1):11-7. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000196Garcia-rodriguez JA, Longino PD, Johnston I.Short arm cast: Casting immobilization series for primary care.Can Fam Physician. 2018;64(10):746-749.Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Distal radius buckle (torus) fracture.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures in children.Ben-yakov M, Boutis K.Buckle fractures of the distal radius in children.CMAJ. 2016;188(7):527. doi:10.1503/cmaj.151239Pandya NK, Upasani VV, Kulkarni VA.The pediatric polytrauma patient: current concepts.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013 Mar;21(3):170-9.University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone densitometry.
National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Pediatric torus buckle fracture.
KidsHealth from Nemours.Buckle fractures.
KidsHealth Nemours.Greenstick Fractures.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Children and broken bones. 2015.
Naranje SM, Erali RA, Warner WC Jr, Sawyer JR, Kelly DM.Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States.J Pediatr Orthop. 2016;36(4):e45-e48. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000595
Williams BA, Alvarado CA, Montoya-williams DC, Matthias RC, Blakemore LC.Buckling down on torus fractures: has evolving evidence affected practice?.J Child Orthop. 2018;12(2):123-128. doi:10.1302/1863-2548.12.170122
Levy J, Ernat J, Song D, Cook JB, Judd D, Shaha S.Outcomes of long-arm casting versus double-sugar-tong splinting of acute pediatric distal forearm fractures.J Pediatr Orthop. 2015;35(1):11-7. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000000196
Garcia-rodriguez JA, Longino PD, Johnston I.Short arm cast: Casting immobilization series for primary care.Can Fam Physician. 2018;64(10):746-749.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Distal radius buckle (torus) fracture.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures in children.
Ben-yakov M, Boutis K.Buckle fractures of the distal radius in children.CMAJ. 2016;188(7):527. doi:10.1503/cmaj.151239
Pandya NK, Upasani VV, Kulkarni VA.The pediatric polytrauma patient: current concepts.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013 Mar;21(3):170-9.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone densitometry.
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