What Is a Buckle Fracture? A buckle (or torus) fracture is a type of broken bone. One side of a bone bends, raising a little buckle, without breaking the other side of the bone. Who Gets Buckle Fractures? This type of fracture usually happens in children under 10 years old. That's because their bones are softer and more flexible than adult bones. So the injury makes the bone bend and buckle, rather than break. How Do Buckle Fractures Happen? A buckle fracture usually happens when the bone is compressed (pressed together with force). This can happen, for example, when a child falls onto an outstretched hand. How Are Buckle Fractures Treated? Health care providers treat most buckle fractures with a splint. Back to Articles Related Articles Greenstick Fractures A greenstick fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone cracks on one side only, not all the way through the bone. Read More Stress Fractures A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone. They usually happen from repeating the same movement over and over. Read More Broken Bones Many kids will have a broken bone at some point. Here's what to expect. Read More First Aid: Broken Bones A broken bone needs emergency medical care. Here's what to do if you think your child just broke a bone. Read More How Broken Bones Heal Broken bones have an amazing ability to heal, especially in kids. Full healing can take time, but new bone usually forms a few weeks after an injury. Read More Broken Bones Bones are tough stuff - but even tough stuff can break. Find out what happens when a bone fractures. Read More Broken Bones What happens when you break a bone? Read More First Aid: Broken Bones A broken bone requires emergency medical care. Here's what to do. Read More Casts This article for teens has tips on taking care of a cast so it keeps working as it should. Read More Splints A splint is a support device that keeps an injured area from moving. Doctors often use splints to hold bones and joints in place so they can heal after a fracture. Read More Comminuted Fractures A comminuted fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone is broken into more than two pieces. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.