[Skip to Content]
</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">kids</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>Broken Bones</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/kids/broken-bones.html"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Huesos rotos</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>What Is a Broken Bone?</h3><p>A broken <a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/bones.html">bone</a>, also called a fracture (say: FRAK-shur), is when a break goes through part or all of a bone.</p><h3>How Do Broken Bones Happen?</h3><p>Most broken bones in kids happen from a fall. Kids also can break a bone in an accident or while playing sports.</p><h3>What Are the Kinds of Broken Bones?</h3><p>Types of bone fractures include:</p><ul><li><strong>A <a class="kh_anchor">greenstick fracture</a>:</strong> a break on one side of the bone only</li><li><strong>A <a class="kh_anchor">buckle or torus fracture</a>:</strong> an outward bend on one side of the bone without breaking the other side</li><li><strong>An avulsion fracture:</strong> when a tendon or ligament pulls off of a tiny piece of bone</li><li><strong>A growth plate fracture:</strong> a break in the area of a child or teen's growing bone</li><li><strong>A stress fracture:</strong> a tiny crack in the bone</li><li><strong>A <a class="kh_anchor">comminuted fracture:</a></strong> a bone breaks into more than two pieces</li><li><strong>A compression fracture:</strong> a collapsing of the bone</li></ul><h3>What Are the Signs of a Broken Bone?</h3><p>It always hurts to break a bone. There also might be swelling and bruising. The injured area may be hard to move and use.</p><p>Sometimes the body part looks crooked or different than it did before the injury.</p><h3>What Do Doctors Do?</h3><p>Doctors order <a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/video-xray.html">X-rays</a> if they think a bone is broken.</p><h3>How Are Broken Bones Treated?</h3><p>Most broken bones are treated with a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/casts.html">cast</a>, <a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/splints.html">splint</a>, or brace. This keeps the broken bone from moving while it heals. Even broken bones that don't line up (called <strong>displaced</strong>) often will heal straight over time.</p><p>Sometimes the displaced bones need to be put back in place before the cast, splint, or brace is put on. This is done through a procedure called a <strong>reduction</strong>. This is also called "setting the bone."</p><h3>How Do Bones Heal?</h3><p>In the first few days after a fracture, the body forms a blood clot around the broken bone to protect it and deliver the cells needed for healing.</p><p>Then, an area of <a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/broken-bones-heal.html">healing</a> tissue forms around the broken bone. This is called a <strong>callus</strong> (say: KAL-uss). It joins the broken bones together. It's soft at first, then gets harder and stronger over the following weeks.</p></div><div class="slideshow carousel"><div class="kh-slideshow-container" data-cmp-is="carousel"><div class="kh-slideshow" data-slidestotalcount="6"><div class="kh-slide active-slide" id="slideNumber1"><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-image"><img src="/content/dam/nemours/shared/images/slideshows/en/broken-bones/00brokenBones_c_enIL.png" alt="How Broken Bones Heal" /></div><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-info"><h2 class="kh-slideshow-slide-title">How Broken Bones Heal</h2><p>It can take a while for broken bones to heal and look normal again. Find out what happens during the healing process.</p></div></div><div class="kh-slide" id="slideNumber2"><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-image"><img src="/content/dam/nemours/shared/images/slideshows/en/broken-bones/02brokenBones_c_enIL.png" alt="As soon as a bone breaks, a hematoma (blood clot) forms around the broken bones. The hematoma protects the bones and delivers the cells needed for healing." /></div><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-info"><h2 class="kh-slideshow-slide-title">Hematoma</h2><p>As soon as a bone breaks, a hematoma (blood clot) forms around the broken bones. The hematoma protects the bones and delivers the cells needed for healing.</p></div></div><div class="kh-slide" id="slideNumber3"><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-image"><img src="/content/dam/nemours/shared/images/slideshows/en/broken-bones/03brokenBones_c_enIL.png" alt="After about a week, a type of bone called a callus starts to form. It's soft at first, but becomes harder. Over the next few weeks, the callus replaces the hematoma." /></div><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-info"><h2 class="kh-slideshow-slide-title">Callus</h2><p>After about a week, a type of bone called a callus starts to form. It's soft at first, but becomes harder. Over the next few weeks, the callus replaces the hematoma.</p></div></div><div class="kh-slide" id="slideNumber4"><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-image"><img src="/content/dam/nemours/shared/images/slideshows/en/broken-bones/04brokenBones_c_enIL.png" alt="New bone starts to form in the weeks after the break. It slowly replaces the callus." /></div><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-info"><h2 class="kh-slideshow-slide-title">New Bone Forms</h2><p>New bone starts to form in the weeks after the break. It slowly replaces the callus.</p></div></div><div class="kh-slide" id="slideNumber5"><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-image"><img src="/content/dam/nemours/shared/images/slideshows/en/broken-bones/05brokenBones_c_enIL.png" alt="New bone continues to form and get harder. The bone slowly reshapes." /></div><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-info"><h2 class="kh-slideshow-slide-title">Continued Healing</h2><p>New bone continues to form and get harder. The bone slowly reshapes.</p></div></div><div class="kh-slide" id="slideNumber6"><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-image"><img src="/content/dam/nemours/shared/images/slideshows/en/broken-bones/06brokenBones_c_enIL.png" alt="Most broken bones heal within a few months." /></div><div class="kh-slideshow-slide-info"><h2 class="kh-slideshow-slide-title">Healed Bone</h2><p>Most broken bones heal within a few months.</p></div></div><div class="kh-slideshow-MControl"><div class="kh-slideshow-count"><span id="slidenumber" class="kh-current-slide-num"></span>/<span id="totalcount"></span></div><div class="kh-slideshow-buttons"><button id="kh-slideshow-prev" aria-label="Go to previous slide"></button><button id="kh-slideshow-next" aria-label="Go to next slide"></button></div></div><div class="kh-slideshow-footer"> © 2024 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved. </div></div></div></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p>New bone forms in the weeks to months after a break, but full healing can take longer.</p><h3>How Can I Help My Bone Heal?</h3><p>To help your bone heal well:</p><ul><li>eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D</li><li>take care of the cast or splint</li><li>rest and/or do any exercises that your doctor recommended</li></ul><p>With the right treatment, a broken bone usually heals well. After a few months, you will be back to doing all the things you did before the injury.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: January 2023</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabKids"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="kids_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListKids" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Kids</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListKids" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="kids_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/video-xray.html">Getting an X-ray (Video)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/casts.html">Casts</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/broken-bones-heal.html">How Broken Bones Heal</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/splints.html">Splints</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/bones.html">Your Bones</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/ssmovie.html">How Does the Skeletal System (Bones) Work? (Video)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/broken-bones.html?view=ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/broken-bones.html?view=emailto" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,6,0,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A KidsHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/eduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. </p> <p>© 1995-<script>document.write(KHcopyDate);</script> The Nemours Foundation. KidsHealth® is a registered trademark of The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved.</p> <div class="imageDisclaimer"> <p> Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="http://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></p> <p>Copyright <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> document.write(KHcopyDate) </script> by <nobr>Cook Children's Health Care System</nobr>, <nobr>Fort Worth, Texas</nobr></p> </div> <script src="/misc/javascript/n00/nitro-main.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/n00/n00_art.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_common.js"> </script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_desktop.js"> </script><script> var kidsHealthSearchHandler = "/CookChildrens/en/kids/"; // KidsHealth custom search handler var kidsHealthLicID = "403"; </script><script> function downloadJSAtOnload(deferredScriptPath) { var element = document.createElement('script'); element.src = deferredScriptPath; document.body.appendChild(element); } if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else { window.onload = downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'); } </script><script> textSizer('1'); </script><script> // Define variables for ReadSpeaker theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); RSLanguage="en_us";</script><script src="//f1-na.readspeaker.com/script/5202/ReadSpeaker.js?pids=embhl"> </script><div id="ariaAnnouncements" aria-live="polite" tabindex="-1" style="visibility: hidden; width: 1px; height: 1px;"> </div> <!--googleon:all--></body></html>