A fracture is defined as a break in the continuity of a bone (Hamblen and Simpson 2007). During play children undertake activities that can increase the risk of injury resulting in a fracture. The child with a fracture may present with pain, swelling, deformity, loss of function and movement; the diagnosis can be confirmed by X-ray.

There are two main classifications of fractures: closed and open (Dandy and Edwards 2009). For a closed fracture the skin remains intact whereas for an open fracture there is damage to the skin that communicates with the fracture site. This is also known as a compound fracture. Fractures can be displaced, where the bone fragments are not in alignment, or undisplaced.