What type of fracture is typically seen in children?

Children are particularly prone to greenstick fractures due to the unique characteristics of their developing bones. A greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture where the bone bends but does not break all the way through, resembling the way a green twig bends and splinters rather than breaking completely. This type of fracture occurs because children's bones are more flexible and have a higher collagen content compared to adult bones, making them less brittle and more likely to bend rather than break completely under stress.

In contrast, the other types of fractures mentioned tend to occur more frequently in adults. A comminuted fracture involves the bone being shattered into several pieces, which is common in high-impact injuries. A complete fracture refers to a fracture that goes all the way through the bone, and a stress fracture is a tiny crack in the bone caused by repetitive force or overuse. While these types of fractures can occur in children, they are not as characteristic as the greenstick fracture.