We present an adolescent with distal radius nonunion following an open fracture and failed surgery which eventually united when the length and stability was restored for eight weeks duration. The intact periosteal sleeve at the nonunion site formed new bone when its tension was restored by gradual differential distraction. This case report highlights the possibility of stimulating bony union in an established atrophic nonunion by distracting the minimally disturbed soft tissue and thick osteogenic periosteal envelope in the paediatric age group.