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- Wrist fractures in children

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Fracture assessment Information page for parents

# Wrist fractures in children

Wrist fractures are among the most common fractures in children and adolescents. They often occur after a fall on the hand during play, sport, bicycle, scooter or school activities.

[Book a visit](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/locations)[Back to the paediatric injuries and fractures guide](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/injuries-fractures)

## What I assess during the visit

During the visit I personally review the X-ray images together with the report and any available documentation. I assess the type of fracture, alignment and stability, the child's age and remaining growth, and any relationship with the growth plate. These elements help understand whether the current pathway is appropriate and how to plan the following check-ups.

The check-up can be useful after an injury, an X-ray or an emergency department visit.

The most frequent location is the distal radius, near the wrist. The ulna, the growth plate or both bones may also be involved. In children, incomplete fractures, torus fractures, greenstick fractures or metaphyseal and physeal injuries are often seen.

In case of visible deformity, severe uncontrolled pain, cold or pale fingers, sensory changes, open wounds or major trauma, urgent ER care is required.

![Dott. Daniele Priano - Ortopedico Pediatrico](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/assets/doctor-avatar-3d-B7t_C744.webp)

#### 🩺 Clinical note

In paediatric fractures it is not only about whether a bone is broken: site of the lesion, growth plate involvement, the child's age and remodelling potential all shape the follow-up plan.

## Why age matters

In the paediatric wrist, remodelling capacity depends largely on age and fracture location. A younger child generally has more correction potential over time than an adolescent close to the end of growth. For this reason the same fracture may be evaluated differently depending on age.

## Why it deserves careful evaluation

Not all wrist fractures require the same pathway. The evaluation considers displacement, relation to the growth plate, stability, pain, swelling, hand function and previous X-rays. It is best to avoid generic indications based only on the report: in some cases imaging and clinical examination change the reasoning.

## Possible aspects to check
- child's age
- fracture location
- growth plate involvement
- displacement and stability
- pain and swelling
- hand and finger function
- possible loss of position at follow-up

Aspects assessed during a paediatric orthopaedic visit. They are not self-management criteria.

[When surgery is considered Surgical treatment of paediatric wrist fractures Indications, conservative alternatives, techniques and follow-up.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/fractures/wrist)

## Related content

[paediatric sports traumatology](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/sports-injuries)[surgical treatment of paediatric fractures](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/injuries-fractures)[fractures near the growth plate](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/physeal-fractures)[Back to the paediatric injuries and fractures guide](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/injuries-fractures)

## Complete injuries and fractures pathway

This page is part of the paediatric injuries and fractures pathway. The main guide covers the overall picture and the warning signs.
- [1 Overview: when an injury is urgent How growing bone behaves, what happens in the emergency room and when an orthopaedic review is useful.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/injuries-fractures)
- [3 Elbow and forearm Supracondylar, forearm and wrist fractures: the most frequent paediatric sites.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/elbow-fracture-children) [Forearm](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/forearm-fracture-children)
- [Wrist · you are here](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/wrist-fracture-children)
- [Elbow surgery](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/fractures/elbow)
- [Forearm surgery](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/fractures/forearm)
- [Wrist surgery](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/fractures/wrist)
- [4 Hand and fingers: recovery after immobilisation Recovery sheet for finger motion after a splint or cast, with the stiffness signs to report.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/parents-kids/exercises/post-cast/after-finger-cast)
- [5 Lower limb and ankle Femur, leg, knee and ankle: weight-bearing, healing times and return to walking.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/femur-fracture-children)

Adjacent clinical pictures: [Sports injuries](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/sports-injuries)

## Paediatric orthopaedic check-up after trauma or fracture

Dr. Daniele Priano sees children and adolescents in Milan. The visit can be useful after the ER, X-rays, a cast, sports trauma or questions about the follow-up pathway.

[Book a paediatric orthopaedic check-up](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/locations)[See locations and booking](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/locations)

Content for general informational purposes only. It does not replace a medical evaluation.

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Canonical: https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/wrist-fracture-children

Le informazioni cliniche sono divulgative e non sostituiscono una valutazione medica diretta.