What level of immobilisation is necessary for treatment of torus (buckle) fractures of the distal radius in children?

Torus (buckle) fractures are the most common fractures of the wrist in children, involving the distal radius and/or ulna bone (fig 1).1 They typically occur in children up to age 14, usually after a low energy fall.2 The flexibility of immature bone in children enables force to be absorbed as with the “crumple zone” of a car: crushing—or buckling—as it is injured. Such fractures differ from greenstick fractures, in which the bone bends (rather than crushes), resulting in a complete break in one cortex and a bend on the opposite side (akin to snapping a fresh twig from a tree). Torus fractures result in a mild deformity without a break in the bone surface, and pain is the main clinical feature. The child may need assistance with schoolwork, time off physical activities, and help with self-care during the recovery period.