Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the greenstick fracture. Mild fractures might be mistaken for sprains or bruises. More-severe greenstick fractures may cause an obvious deformity, accompanied by significant pain and swelling. When to see a doctor Contact your doctor if your child has persistent pain in an injured limb. Seek immediate medical attention if a child is unable to bear weight or if there is obvious pain, deformity and swelling. Causes Childhood fractures most commonly occur with a fall. Arm fractures are more common than leg fractures, since the common reaction is to throw out your arms to catch yourself when you fall. Risk factors The risk of greenstick fractures is higher in young children because their bones are softer and more flexible than adult bones. In a greenstick fracture, the bone bends and cracks instead of breaking into separate pieces. Most greenstick fractures occur in children under age 10.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment       Feb. 25, 2021   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter Show references Marx JA, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Kliegman RM, et al. Common fractures. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Diagnosis and assessment. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mencio GA. Fractures and dislocations of the forearm, wrist and hand. In: Green's Skeletal Trauma in Children. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mathison DJ, et al. General principles of fracture management: Fracture patterns and description in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Initial management. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Closed reduction and casting of distal forearm fractures in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Herring JA. Upper extremity injuries. In: Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopedics. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016.  Show references  Marx JA, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Kliegman RM, et al. Common fractures. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Diagnosis and assessment. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mencio GA. Fractures and dislocations of the forearm, wrist and hand. In: Green's Skeletal Trauma in Children. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mathison DJ, et al. General principles of fracture management: Fracture patterns and description in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Initial management. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Closed reduction and casting of distal forearm fractures in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Herring JA. Upper extremity injuries. In: Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopedics. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016.   Marx JA, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Kliegman RM, et al. Common fractures. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Diagnosis and assessment. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mencio GA. Fractures and dislocations of the forearm, wrist and hand. In: Green's Skeletal Trauma in Children. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mathison DJ, et al. General principles of fracture management: Fracture patterns and description in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Initial management. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Closed reduction and casting of distal forearm fractures in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Herring JA. Upper extremity injuries. In: Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopedics. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016.  Marx JA, et al., eds. General principles of orthopedic injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Kliegman RM, et al. Common fractures. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Diagnosis and assessment. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mencio GA. Fractures and dislocations of the forearm, wrist and hand. In: Green's Skeletal Trauma in Children. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016. Mathison DJ, et al. General principles of fracture management: Fracture patterns and description in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Distal forearm fractures in children: Initial management. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Schweich P. Closed reduction and casting of distal forearm fractures in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 21, 2016. Herring JA. Upper extremity injuries. In: Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopedics. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 21, 2016.  Related    Greenstick fracture     Associated Procedures   CT scan   Ultrasound   X-ray     Products & Services   Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child     Related    Greenstick fracture      Greenstick fracture  
signs symptoms will vary  depending severity greenstick fracture  mild fractures mistaken sprains bruises  more-severe greenstick fractures may cause obvious deformity  accompanied significant pain swelling  see doctor contact doctor child persistent pain injured limb  seek medical attention child unable bear weight obvious pain  deformity swelling  causes childhood fractures commonly occur fall  arm fractures common leg fractures  common reaction throw arms catch fall  risk factors risk greenstick fractures higher young children bones softer flexible adult bones  greenstick fracture  bone bends cracks breaking separate pieces  greenstick fractures occur children age 10                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       feb  25  2021   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references marx ja  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  8th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  kliegman rm  al  common fractures  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  20th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2016  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: diagnosis assessment  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  mencio ga  fractures dislocations forearm  wrist hand  in: green's skeletal trauma children  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2015  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  mathison dj  al  general principles fracture management: fracture patterns description children  http://www uptodate com/home  march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: initial management  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  closed reduction casting distal forearm fractures children  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  herring ja  upper extremity injuries  in: tachdjian's pediatric orthopedics  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016   show references  marx ja  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  8th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  kliegman rm  al  common fractures  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  20th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2016  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: diagnosis assessment  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  mencio ga  fractures dislocations forearm  wrist hand  in: green's skeletal trauma children  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2015  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  mathison dj  al  general principles fracture management: fracture patterns description children  http://www uptodate com/home  march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: initial management  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  closed reduction casting distal forearm fractures children  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  herring ja  upper extremity injuries  in: tachdjian's pediatric orthopedics  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016    marx ja  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  8th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  kliegman rm  al  common fractures  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  20th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2016  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: diagnosis assessment  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  mencio ga  fractures dislocations forearm  wrist hand  in: green's skeletal trauma children  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2015  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  mathison dj  al  general principles fracture management: fracture patterns description children  http://www uptodate com/home  march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: initial management  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  closed reduction casting distal forearm fractures children  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  herring ja  upper extremity injuries  in: tachdjian's pediatric orthopedics  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016   marx ja  al  eds  general principles orthopedic injuries  in: rosen's emergency medicine: concepts clinical practice  8th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  kliegman rm  al  common fractures  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  20th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2016  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: diagnosis assessment  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  mencio ga  fractures dislocations forearm  wrist hand  in: green's skeletal trauma children  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2015  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016  mathison dj  al  general principles fracture management: fracture patterns description children  http://www uptodate com/home  march 21  2016  schweich p  distal forearm fractures children: initial management  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  schweich p  closed reduction casting distal forearm fractures children  http://www uptodate com/home  accessed march 21  2016  herring ja  upper extremity injuries  in: tachdjian's pediatric orthopedics  5th ed  philadelphia  pa : saunders elsevier; 2014  http://www clinicalkey com  accessed march 21  2016      greenstick fracture     associated procedures   ct scan   ultrasound   x-ray     products & services   book: mayo clinic guide raising healthy child        greenstick fracture      greenstick fracture  
greenstick fractures