What term describes a buckling fracture typically seen in children?

A buckling fracture typically observed in children is referred to as a torus fracture. This type of fracture occurs due to compressive forces that cause the soft, pliable bone in children to bulge outward without breaking all the way through. The structural properties of children's bones differ significantly from those of adults; they are more flexible due to the presence of growth plates and the fact that they are still developing.

Torus fractures usually happen around the metaphysis of long bones and can often be mistaken for more serious injuries because they do not show complete fractures. Recognizing this type of injury is essential for appropriate management and reassurance for caregivers, as it generally indicates a lesser degree of trauma compared to other fracture types, such as complete fractures seen in adults or more serious injuries.

In contrast to torus fractures, other types such as greenstick fractures involve a partial break where one side of the bone is broken while the other side remains intact, while spiral and transverse fractures present differently and typically result from more severe mechanisms of injury.