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The treatment and recovery of fractures in children is, in general, much simpler and faster than that of adults.

The time required is comparatively shorter, the complications are minimal and easier to treat, while there is almost never stiffness, atrophy or functional deficit.

Some very common and at the same time very simple fractures to treat are the ones we will discuss below:

• The clavicle fracture can be simply cracked but also very displaced. In children, it will heal perfectly, no matter what, with just the application of an octagonal shoulder bandage or simple suspension, within 2-4 weeks.
• The fracture of the upper end of the humerus, if the epiphysis has not been displaced, similarly heals within 3-5 weeks with the use of simple suspension of the limb and avoidance of movement.
• The head of the radius in the elbow area may suffer a compression fracture which, unless there is severe compression, does not require any other treatment than the application of suspension or a brachiocarpal splint for 2-3 weeks.
• The cracked compression fractures of the forearm and the phalanges, or as they are called, are treated with the application of a ankle splint for 3-5 weeks and then with a simple elastic bandage for 1-2 additional weeks.
• In infants and young children, Toddler’s fractures are common.
• Application of a shin splint or better yet, a full cast for 3-6 weeks is sufficient. Of course, the condition is that the child does not step on it at all because there is the possibility of displacement in some cases. The same treatment is applied to fractures of the external and medial malleolus of the ankle when there is no displacement.

• Also common are fractures of the metatarsals of the foot where the treatment consists of applying a splint or full plaster cast accordingly, while due to the anatomy of the area, large displacements are accepted and are ultimately corrected perfectly.

An exception is the fracture of the tuber of the 5th metatarsal, which requires special attention and which in cases of displacement requires surgery.

• For fractures of the fingers, it is sufficient to simply bandage the patient with the adjacent one for 1-2 weeks and rest until the pain passes.

The above types of fractures are often not noticeable from the beginning. They appear even after a minor injury and it is the swelling and pain that makes parents seek medical help. With these symptoms, an x-ray should always be performed to determine whether there is a fracture or not.

In addition, often the first x-ray is negative and the fracture is detected in a subsequent one a few days later.

With the presence of symptoms, it is not wrong to put a splint or a suspension because it is common for there to be a fracture that is not visible at first.