Paediatric Orthopaedics
Paediatric Fractures & Growth Plate Injuries
Children’s bones are softer, more porous, and contain growth plates. They heal faster than adult bones, but they also need special consideration to protect future bone growth.
Symptoms
Signs in Children
- Pain and tenderness at the injury site
- Swelling and bruising
- Refusal to use the limb or bear weight
- Visible deformity; crying or distress with movement
- Guarding the injured area
Young children may not be able to describe their pain. A child who refuses to walk or use an arm after a fall should be evaluated.
Common Causes
How They Happen
- Falls from playground equipment, beds, or while running
- Sports injuries
- Bicycle and scooter accidents
- Trampoline injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
Classification
Types of Paediatric Fractures
Greenstick
The bone bends and cracks but does not break completely — unique to children’s flexible bones.
Buckle (Torus)
The bone compresses and buckles on one side. Stable and heals quickly.
Complete
The bone breaks into two pieces. May be displaced or non-displaced.
Growth Plate
Involves the growth plate at the end of the bone. Needs careful treatment to prevent growth disturbance.
Why It Matters
Growth Plate Injuries
Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage that determine bone length and shape. About 15 to 30 percent of childhood fractures involve the growth plate.
Proper treatment minimises the risk of growth arrest (premature closure), angular deformity (the bone grows crooked), or limb-length discrepancy. Most growth-plate injuries heal well with appropriate care.
Treatment · Step One
Non-Surgical Treatment
Most paediatric fractures heal without surgery, because children’s bones remodel (reshape) as they grow.
- Casting — a plaster or fibreglass cast immobilises the bone while it heals.
- Splinting — for stable fractures that need protection but allow for swelling.
- Closed reduction — a displaced bone may be manipulated back into position under sedation, then casted.
Treatment · When Needed
When Surgery Is Needed
Surgery may be needed for fractures that cannot be held in acceptable alignment with a cast, certain growth-plate fractures, open fractures, or fractures with nerve or blood-vessel injury.
- Pins or wires — often removed later.
- Plates and screws
- Flexible nails — placed inside the bone.
Red Flags
Seek Emergency Care
Go to an emergency department if there is:
- Obvious deformity of the limb, or bone visible through the skin
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes
- Fingers or toes that are pale, blue, or cold
- Severe pain not relieved by immobilisation
- Significant swelling that develops rapidly
Get Started
A Suspected Fracture in Your Child?
Call +966 50 580 8852 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Related
Related Care
Trauma & Fracture Care
Fracture care for all ages — types, treatment, and recovery.
Paediatric Orthopaedics Hub
An overview of children’s bone, joint, and muscle care.