Which condition results in the bowing or curving of a long bone in children due to applied force?

The bowing or curving of a long bone in children due to applied force is referred to as bow deformity. This condition typically occurs in growing children because their bones are more flexible and less mineralized compared to those of adults, allowing them to bend rather than break under pressure. The deformation can result from repetitive stress or a single incident of excessive force, leading to an abnormal curvature of the bone without complete fracturing.

In contrast, a greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture where the bone bends but does not completely break; it is somewhat similar to a bow deformity but does not primarily refer to the curvature itself as a condition. Simple and compound fractures refer to complete breaks in the bone, with simple fractures being closed (no skin break) and compound fractures being open (skin break), but neither specifically describes the curving or bowing of the bone.