Which of the following fractures is most likely to occur in young children and why?
A) Children are more likely to have compound fractures because the tissue surrounding the bones is less dense than the tissue in adults.
B) Children are more likely to have greenstick fractures because their bones contain more collagen than adult bones.
C) Children are more likely to have comminuted fractures because rapid growth during childhood makes bones brittle.
D) Children are more likely to have spiral fractures because the matrix is uneven.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Young children have bones that are still developing and have a greater proportion of collagen than adult bones. This makes their bones more flexible and less likely to fracture completely, resulting in a greenstick fracture, where the bone only partially breaks on one side while bending on the other. Compound fractures are less common in children because the tissue surrounding their bones is more dense and elastic, making it more resilient to impact. Comminuted fractures and spiral fractures are not more common in children, and there is no evidence to suggest that rapid growth makes bones brittle.

Which of the Following Fractures Is Most Likely to Occur