What type of fracture does a child have if there is an incomplete separation of the bone?

• A. Greenstick
• B. Comminuted
• C. Spiral
• D. Transverse

Answer: (A)

In children, bones are more flexible, so a bending force can cause the bone to buckle on one side while not fully breaking on the other. This incomplete separation where the cortex on the bending (tension) side cracks but remains partly intact is called a greenstick fracture. The term describes a half-break rather than a full fracture through the bone.

This differs from a comminuted fracture, which involves multiple bone fragments; a spiral fracture, caused by twisting, typically shows a helical fracture line and is usually a complete break; and a transverse fracture, which is a clean break straight across the bone, also a complete fracture.