A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. Fractures have a variety of names. The broken bone is not completely separated.
Fractures occur when there is more force applied to the bone than the bone can absorb.
Bones are weakest when they are twisted. Breaks in bones can occur from falls, trauma, or as a result of a direct blow or kick to the body. The younger the child, the faster the healing occurs. Bones are softer in children and tend to buckle or bend rather than completely break. Children have open growth plates, also called epiphysis, located at the end of the long bones.