An avulsion fracture, also called a chip fracture or a chipped bone, occurs when a piece of your child’s bone gets pulled away from the main bone by a tendon or ligament.
Paediatric fractures
If your child has fractured a limb, our orthopaedic and paediatric experts can help diagnose and treat them
What is a paediatric fracture?
A fracture is the medical term for a partial or complete broken bone and it’s very common for children to experience a fracture at some point during their growth and development. Fractures are often sustained because of an accident or while playing sports. It can be difficult to see your child in pain, and you might be worried about how their broken bone will affect them in the longer term. Our expert paediatric orthopaedic consultants are here to help your child recover from their injury, using advanced diagnostic equipment and pioneering treatment techniques to give them the best possible chance of making a full and fast recovery.
How do I know if my child has broken a bone?
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if your child’s bone is broken or if they have sustained a different kind of injury. Some signs that may indicate a fracture are:
- If their limb, wrist or finger is clearly not in normal alignment
- If they have severe bruising or swelling around the possible fracture area
- If they have ongoing pain in the above areas
If you are concerned or the pain doesn’t subside after a period of time, it’s always better to get your child checked by an expert. At The Portland Hospital we have an Urgent Care Centre for acute injuries which need to be seen immediately and paediatric orthopaedic consultants if you're concerned about how your child is recovering from an injury.
Types of fractures in children
Paediatric fractures can take many different forms. This is because your child’s bones are softer and not yet fully formed.
Avulsion fracture
Buckle fracture
If your child has a buckle fracture or Torus fracture, it means their bone has bent or buckled, rather than broken all the way through. These usually happen when the bone is compressed, for example if they’ve put out their hand to break a fall.
Greenstick fracture
A greenstick fracture is a fracture in which your child’s bone only breaks on one side, rather than all the way through. Greenstick fractures almost always happen in children younger than 10, when their bones are at their most pliable.
Growth plate
A growth plate fracture is a break that has damaged the soft cartilage between two of your child’s bones. Most growth plate fractures don’t cause lasting problems, although some can affect future bone growth if they’re not treated quickly.
Spiral fracture
Spiral fractures occur when your child breaks a bone while twisting a limb. These are sometimes called a toddler’s fracture as they are seen most commonly in toddlers who have twisted their leg falling over, although they can affect older children as well.
How do we diagnose fractures in children?
If you suspect your child has fractured a bone, one of our consultants will discuss their symptoms with you and make a diagnosis. They will carry out a physical examination, followed by imaging, usually an X-ray. This will help to determine whether or not a fracture has occurred. At The Portland Hospital, our radiology team has a low radiation x-ray scanner.
How do we treat paediatric fractures?
There are a number of treatment options available, depending on where the fracture is and what type of fracture your child has sustained. Their consultant will discuss which options are best for their particular case with you both.
Closed reduction
Where possible, we will treat your child’s fracture using a non-surgical procedure called a closed reduction. During this procedure, an orthopaedic surgeon will set (known as reducing) your child’s bone back into place. Closed reduction works best when it’s performed soon after a fracture first happens.
After a closed reduction, your child will need to wear a plaster cast on their limb to protect the reset bone and help their injury heal. For finger fractures, they will need a temporary splint also called a ‘buddy’ to hold the injured bone in place.
Internal fixation
In some cases, surgery may be required. This is known as internal fixation. This procedure involves using pins, screws or a metal plate to keep your child’s fractured bone in place whilst it heals.
Meet our paediatric orthopaedic consultants
We work with leading paediatric orthopaedic consultants and surgeons who are experts in diagnosing and treating fractures in children. A number of these consultants hold prominent positions at London's top teaching hospitals and patients travel across the world to be treated by them.
Our paediatric orthopaedic locations
Our specialist paediatric orthopaedic consultants work out of our outpatient and surgical facilities at The Portland Hospital, the UK’s only private hospital dedicated to the treatment of women and children. Some of our consultants and paediatricians can also be seen at our clinics in Chiswick, Golders Green, Elstree and at The Shard.
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Urgent Care Centre for Children
234 Great Portland Street W1W 5QT London
Chiswick Outpatients
Bond House 347-353 Chiswick High Road W4 4HS London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
The Waterfront Business Park Beaufort House, Elstree Road WD6 3BS Elstree
Golders Green Outpatients
Roman House, 296 Golders Green Road Golders Green NW11 9PY London
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.