Which description best matches a torus (buckle) fracture?

• A. A bowing, bending, or buckling without a break in the cortex
• B. A break in the cortex on one side with intact opposite cortex
• C. Fracture at the growth plate
• D. A complete fracture of both cortices

Answer: (A)

Torus fractures occur when a bending or compressive force causes the cortex to buckle inward without a full cortical break. This inward buckling describes a bending or bowing of the bone rather than a discrete fracture line, which is why the description of bowing, bending, or buckling without a break in the cortex is the best match. In children, bones are softer, so they tend to bend rather than snap completely. This pattern differentiates torus fractures from greenstick fractures (where one side of the cortex breaks while the other remains intact), from physeal growth plate injuries, and from complete fractures that go through both cortices. These injuries are common in the distal radius or tibia and typically heal well with immobilization.