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Principles of Fracture Care

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Children's Orthopaedics and Fractures

Abstract

In childhood, bone has certain characteristics that are quantitatively different from those of the adult. First, the modulus of elasticity is relatively high and the thick periosteal sleeve adds further resistance to complete fracturing. Hence buckle (torus) and greenstick fractures are relatively common, although they may be more extensive than plain radiographs suggest. Second, it should be appreciated that bone tends to give way before ligament in the prepubertal child: apophyses and other bony points of soft tissue attachment avulse before the tendon ruptures or the ligament tears.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Malcolm F. Macnicol

  2. Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK

    Malcolm F. Macnicol

  3. Edinburgh and Murrayfield Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

    Malcolm F. Macnicol

  4. Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK

    Malcolm F. Macnicol

  5. Department of Children´s Orthopaedics, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK

    Alastair W. Murray

Authors
  1. Malcolm F. Macnicol
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  2. Alastair W. Murray
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, United Kingdom

    Michael Benson

  2. Sick Children, Great Ormond Street Hospital for, Greater Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, United Kingdom

    John Fixsen

  3. Orthopaedic Hospital, Princess Margaret Rose, Frogston Road West 41-43, Edinburgh, EH10 7ED, United Kingdom

    Malcolm Macnicol

  4. Orthopädie, Olgahospital, Bismarckstr. 8, Stuttgart, 70176, Germany

    Klausdieter Parsch

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© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Macnicol, M.F., Murray, A.W. (2010). Principles of Fracture Care. In: Benson, M., Fixsen, J., Macnicol, M., Parsch, K. (eds) Children's Orthopaedics and Fractures. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-611-3_38

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-611-3_38

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-610-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-611-3

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