A greenstick fracture is a fracture in a young, soft bone in which the bone bends and breaks. Greenstick fractures occur most often during infancy and childhood when bones are soft. The name is by analogy with green (i.e., fresh) wood which similarly breaks on the outside when bent.
Some clinical features of a greenstick fracture are similar to those of a standard long bone fracture – greenstick fractures normally cause pain at the injured area. As these fractures are specifically a pediatric problem, an older child will be protective of the fractured part and babies may cry inconsolably. As per a standard fracture, the area may be swollen and either red or bruised. Greenstick fractures are stable fractures as a part of the bone remains intact and unbroken so this type of fracture normally causes a bend to the injured part, rather than a distinct deformity, which is problematic. Symptoms include pain in the area and can start from overuse in that specific bone. This can be a very gradual chronic pain or pain from a specific injury.
Risk factorsedit
The greenstick fracture pattern occurs as a result of bending forces. Activities with a high risk of falling are risk factors. Non-accidental injury more commonly causes spiral (twisting) fractures but a blow on the forearm or shin could cause a greenstick fracture. The fracture usually occurs in children and teens because their bones are flexible, unlike adults whose more brittle bones usually break.
Removable splints result in better outcomes than casting in children with torus fractures of the distal radius.[1] If a person is doing better after 4 weeks, repeat X rays are not needed.[2]
Evidence for greenstick fractures found in the fossil record is studied by paleopathologists, specialists in ancient disease and injury. Greenstick fractures (willow breaks) have been reported in fossils of the large carnivorous dinosaur Allosaurus fragilis.[3]
Greenstick fractures are found in the fossil remains of Lucy, the most famous specimen of Australopithecus afarensis, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. Analysis of bone fracture patterns, which include a large number of greenstick fractures in the forearms, lower limbs, pelvis, thorax and skull, suggest that Lucy died from a vertical fall and impact with the ground.[4]
Referencesedit
^Firmin, Fiona; Crouch, Robert (July 2009). "Splinting versus casting of 'torus' fractures to the distal radius in the paediatric patient presenting at the emergency department (ED): A literature review". International Emergency Nursing. 17 (3): 173–178. doi:10.1016/j.ienj.2009.03.006. PMID 19577205.
^"Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" (PDF). Choosing Wisely. Retrieved 15 February 2018.[dead link]
^Molnar, R. E. (2001). "Theropod paleopathology: a literature survey". In Tanke, Darren; Carpenter, Kenneth (eds.). Mesozoic Vertebrate Life. Indiana University Press. pp. 337–363. ISBN978-0-253-33907-2.
^Kappelman, John; Ketcham, Richard A.; Pearce, Stephen; Todd, Lawrence; Akins, Wiley; Colbert, Matthew W.; Feseha, Mulugeta; Maisano, Jessica A.; Witzel, Adrienne (22 September 2016). "Perimortem fractures in Lucy suggest mortality from fall out of tall tree". Nature. 537 (7621): 503–507. Bibcode:2016Natur.537..503K. doi:10.1038/nature19332. PMID 27571283. S2CID 4402700.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greenstick fractures.
Radiology Greenstick vs Torus Fractures
Handoll, Helen HG; Elliott, Joanne; Iheozor-Ejiofor, Zipporah; Hunter, James; Karantana, Alexia (19 December 2018). "Interventions for treating wrist fractures in children". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018 (12): CD012470. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012470.pub2. PMC6516962. PMID 30566764.
May 07, 2024
greenstick, fracture, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, augus. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Greenstick fracture news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message A greenstick fracture is a fracture in a young soft bone in which the bone bends and breaks Greenstick fractures occur most often during infancy and childhood when bones are soft The name is by analogy with green i e fresh wood which similarly breaks on the outside when bent Greenstick fractureGreenstick fractures on X ray SpecialtyOrthopedicsPediatrics Contents 1 Signs and symptoms 2 Risk factors 3 Diagnosis 4 Treatment 5 Fossil record 6 References 7 External linksSigns and symptoms editSome clinical features of a greenstick fracture are similar to those of a standard long bone fracture greenstick fractures normally cause pain at the injured area As these fractures are specifically a pediatric problem an older child will be protective of the fractured part and babies may cry inconsolably As per a standard fracture the area may be swollen and either red or bruised Greenstick fractures are stable fractures as a part of the bone remains intact and unbroken so this type of fracture normally causes a bend to the injured part rather than a distinct deformity which is problematic Symptoms include pain in the area and can start from overuse in that specific bone This can be a very gradual chronic pain or pain from a specific injury Risk factors editThe greenstick fracture pattern occurs as a result of bending forces Activities with a high risk of falling are risk factors Non accidental injury more commonly causes spiral twisting fractures but a blow on the forearm or shin could cause a greenstick fracture The fracture usually occurs in children and teens because their bones are flexible unlike adults whose more brittle bones usually break Diagnosis editProjectional radiography is generally preferable Treatment editRemovable splints result in better outcomes than casting in children with torus fractures of the distal radius 1 If a person is doing better after 4 weeks repeat X rays are not needed 2 Fossil record editMain article Paleopathology Evidence for greenstick fractures found in the fossil record is studied by paleopathologists specialists in ancient disease and injury Greenstick fractures willow breaks have been reported in fossils of the large carnivorous dinosaur Allosaurus fragilis 3 Greenstick fractures are found in the fossil remains of Lucy the most famous specimen of Australopithecus afarensis discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 Analysis of bone fracture patterns which include a large number of greenstick fractures in the forearms lower limbs pelvis thorax and skull suggest that Lucy died from a vertical fall and impact with the ground 4 References edit Firmin Fiona Crouch Robert July 2009 Splinting versus casting of torus fractures to the distal radius in the paediatric patient presenting at the emergency department ED A literature review International Emergency Nursing 17 3 173 178 doi 10 1016 j ienj 2009 03 006 PMID 19577205 Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question PDF Choosing Wisely Retrieved 15 February 2018 dead link Molnar R E 2001 Theropod paleopathology a literature survey In Tanke Darren Carpenter Kenneth eds Mesozoic Vertebrate Life Indiana University Press pp 337 363 ISBN 978 0 253 33907 2 Kappelman John Ketcham Richard A Pearce Stephen Todd Lawrence Akins Wiley Colbert Matthew W Feseha Mulugeta Maisano Jessica A Witzel Adrienne 22 September 2016 Perimortem fractures in Lucy suggest mortality from fall out of tall tree Nature 537 7621 503 507 Bibcode 2016Natur 537 503K doi 10 1038 nature19332 PMID 27571283 S2CID 4402700 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greenstick fractures Radiology Greenstick vs Torus Fractures Handoll Helen HG Elliott Joanne Iheozor Ejiofor Zipporah Hunter James Karantana Alexia 19 December 2018 Interventions for treating wrist fractures in children Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018 12 CD012470 doi 10 1002 14651858 CD012470 pub2 PMC 6516962 PMID 30566764 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greenstick fracture amp oldid 1219603123, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
