
Buckle fracture treatmentīuckle fractures or torus fractures are usually treated with a pre-made wrist splint or a removable Plaster of Paris backslab (a partial cast held in place with bandages), which should be worn as much as possible but can be removed for bathing or showering. The more information we have about your child’s condition, the better we can treat their unique injury. Nerve assessment tests to determine if the injury has damaged or compressed any nerves in your child’s arm or hand.Range of motions tests to determine how the injury is affecting your child’s movement and dexterity.In addition to a physical exam and X-rays, your child may also undergo: X-rays produce images of bones and help doctors identify the type of fracture so they can recommend the best treatment for your child. In most cases, clinicians will recommend X-rays of your child’s forearm to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of your child’s injury. The physician will look for any deformity of the arm, as well as swelling, tenderness, and an inability to rotate the affected arm. Buckle fracture diagnosisĭiagnosing a forearm torus fracture typically begins with a physical examination of your child’s arm, wrist and elbow. Difficulty turning or rotating the forearmĪdditionally, your child may feel the need to support the injured arm with their other hand.Deformity of the forearm, elbow or wrist.Your child’s forearm and hand may also feel numb, a sign of potential nerve injury. Buckle fracture symptomsĪ forearm buckle fracture usually results in severe pain. This most commonly occurs at the distal radius or tibia following a fall on an outstretched arm the force is transmitted from carpus to the distal radius and the point of least resistance fractures, usually the dorsal cortex of the distal radius. However, the terms are often used interchangeably.Ĭortical buckle fractures occur when there is axial loading of a long bone. Strictly speaking, a torus fracture refers to a circumferential buckle fracture 5. They are usually seen in children, frequently involving the distal radial metaphysis. They result from trabecular compression due to an axial loading force along the long axis of the bone. Torus fractures or buckle fractures, are incomplete fractures of the shaft of a long bone that is characterized by bulging of the cortex. In most cases, forearm fractures in children are caused by: Avoid contact sports for six weeks after the injury.Ĭhildren love to run, hop, skip, jump and tumble, all of which are activities that could potentially result in a buckle fracture to the forearm should an unexpected fall occur.Most children will not need a follow-up appointment or X-ray, because buckle fractures usually heal quickly without any problems.Your child should wear a removable backslab (partial cast) or splint for three weeks.A buckle fracture in the wrist is a small area of compressed bone.In adults, the commonest form of buckle fracture seen is a buckle fracture of the ribs. An arm sling is optional, and may help reduce any pain or discomfort.īuckle fractures are more common in children, especially aged 5-10 years, due to the elasticity of their bones. Buckle fractures or torus fractures are stable due to the thick periosteum present in this patient population and unlike other pediatric wrist and forearm fractures, the risk of future displacement is minimal 3.īuckle fractures are treated by wearing a removable backslab (a partial cast held in place with bandages) or ready-made splint, which should be worn as much as possible but can be removed for bathing or showering. There is no deformity in the wrist, which means the wrist will not be out of its usual shape.īuckle fracture or torus fracture is a stable fracture, meaning that the broken pieces of bone are still in position and have not separated apart (displaced). The wrist may be tender, slightly swollen, and painful to move. The bone will have a very small fracture, which is so minor that it may be difficult to see on X-ray (Figure 2). The injury affects the radius bone in particular.

The most common type of buckle fracture in children occurs in the forearm, near the wrist, usually after a child falls onto an outstretched arm. Torus (buckle) fractures of the distal forearm are common injuries in children and young adolescents, typically occurring after a fall on an outstretched arm 2.

Torus or buckle fracture occurs in the transition zone between metaphyseal and diaphyseal bone 1. The topmost layer of bone on one side of the bone is compressed, causing the other side to bend away from the growth plate. Buckle fracture also called torus fracture, is an incomplete fracture of the shaft of a long bone that occurs when a bone “buckles” or slightly crushes in on itself and is characterized by bulging of the cortex of the bone.
