Open fractures need to be cleaned thoroughly in the sterile environment of the operating room before they are set because the bone's exposure to the air poses a risk of infection. In young children, one side of the bone can bend, raising a little buckle, and this is called a buckle or torus fracture. This common bone break usually heals in 3 to 4 weeks. Just as the name implies, this fracture resembles what would happen if one tried to break a green stick. This is a partial fracture in which one side of the bone is broken and the other side bends.
Fractures heal at different rates depending upon the age of the child and the type of fracture.
Young children may heal in as little as 3 weeks, although it may take 6 weeks for the same kind of fracture to heal in teens. Some of these fractures are treated for a few days in traction. When the fracture begins to show early healing, a cast can then be applied to hold the bone straight while healing is completed. A wet cast could cause irritation or inflammation of the skin. Fiberglass casts with waterproof liners allow children to continue bathing or even go swimming during the healing process.