How these fractures are treated, and how quickly they heal, depends very much upon the age of your child. Very young children’s bones heal extremely quickly, and if these bones heal with any angulation the bones will straighten as they grow — a process known as a remodelling. This means that it is less likely that any intervention for their injury will be required. A splint for symptom control is often sufficient treatment.
Older children, who have nearly stopped growing, have little potential to remodel their bones, and will therefore be treated in a similar fashion to an adult. It is therefore more likely that they may need an operation to push the bones back into the correct position, which may also then require holding in place with pins, plates or nails.
Lying between these two age groups are the full spectrum of children and their evolving bone/fracture characteristics. Your surgeon is an expert in managing children’s forearm and wrist fractures and will discuss with you and your child the best treatment plan for them.