YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH/BONE AND JOINT DISORDERS: FRACTURES (BROKEN BONES)
There are several types of fracture commonly seen in children. These include: Greenstick fracture in which a bone is bent rather than broken. This is common in young children, whose bones are malleable.
Undisplaced fracture in which the break does not interfere with the alignment of the bone fragments, so that the two ends remain in contact with each other. Open fracture in which one end of the broken bone is exposed to the outside through the skin, and is thus susceptible to becoming infected.
Clinical features
The area around the fracture usually becomes swollen and sometimes there is an obvious deformity visible. The child may hold his arm or leg perfectly still because even the slightest movement increases the pain.
Investigations
The diagnosis of a fracture should always be confirmed by an X-ray.
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