[The changing spectrum of childhood fractures].

Every third child sustains a fracture before adulthood. Forearm fractures comprise one third of all fractures and their incidence has significantly increased during the past decades. Hand and foot fractures are also common but their number has decreased. A small proportion of children sustain multiple long-bone fractures or vertebral fractures. They should be referred to a pediatric evaluation to detect and treat potential underlying bone fragility.