Broken bones and healing time

The question:
How long do broken bones take to heal in a four-year old? How long will my child be in a cast?

The Pediatrician Answers:
Children's bones are generally more flexible than adult bones -- but they can still break.

How long a bone takes to heal depends on the age of the child, how big the bone is, and where the fracture is located. In general, large bones, such as the humerus (upper arm bone) or femur (upper leg bone) take longer to heal (6-10 weeks) than smaller ones, such as the finger bones (phalanges). Newborn babies may heal more quickly - sometimes in 2 to 3 weeks, while teenagers may take sometimes 2-3 months to heal.