GROWTH PLATE INJURIES AND FRACTURES
A growth plate fracture affects the layer of growing tissue near the ends of a child’s bones. Growth plates are the softest and weakest sections of the skeleton.
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Growth Plate Injuries and Fractures
Growth plates are tender regions of growing cartilage on the ends of a child’s bones. The growth plates, which help determine the length and form of the bone, are where the long bones in a child’s body develop rather than from the bone’s center outward. The growth plates are vulnerable to damage when a child’s bones are growing and developing. Untreated growth plate injuries might prevent the bone from growing normally. The growth plates become bone when a youngster is completely developed.
Growth Plate Injuries
The patches of developing cartilaginous tissue present at the ends of children’s long bones are known as growth plates, sometimes known as the epiphyseal plate or physis. The size and form of the adult bone are determined by these growth plates. Because they are not as hard as bones, the growth plates are more prone to injury and they can crack or break. Children and teens who are developing frequently have growth plate injuries. When a youngster has a serious joint injury, the growth plate may shatter rather than suffer ligament damage.
A child’s growth plate can fracture from any accident that would only result in a sprain for an adult. Fractures commonly occur in children when they experience a growth plate injury. In contrast, growth plates can also suffer from overuse and repetitive motion injuries, just like adults.
Sports participation is a common cause of growth plate injuries brought on by repeated action and misuse. The following terms might also refer to a Growth Plate injury:
- Little League elbow
- Little League shoulder
- Jumper’s knee
- Saver’s disease
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is a growth plate injury, and how does it occur in children?
A growth plate injury, also known as a physeal fracture, occurs when there is damage to the growth plate, which is a cartilaginous area near the end of a child’s long bones. Growth plates are responsible for bone growth and elongation during childhood and adolescence. These injuries typically happen due to trauma or an accident, such as a fall or sports-related injury, where the force applied to the bone is concentrated at the growth plate. Children’s bones are still growing, and their growth plates are more vulnerable to injury than adult bones.
How can a growth plate injury be diagnosed and treated in children?
Diagnosis and treatment of growth plate injuries involve the following steps:
- Clinical Evaluation: A healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination to assess the injured area, looking for signs of tenderness, swelling, and deformity.
- Imaging: X-rays are commonly used to visualize the injury and assess its severity. In some cases, additional imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans may be necessary to obtain a more detailed view.
- Classification: Growth plate injuries are classified into several types (e.g., Salter-Harris classification) based on the extent of damage to the growth plate and surrounding bone. The type of fracture determines the treatment approach.
- Treatment: Treatment options may include:
- Casting or Splinting: Some growth plate injuries may be treated non-surgically with immobilization using a cast or splint.
- Surgery: In more severe cases, surgery may be required to realign the fractured bones and stabilize the growth plate.
- Close Monitoring: Close follow-up with a healthcare provider is essential to monitor the healing process and assess any potential complications.
What are the potential long-term effects of a growth plate injury in children?
The long-term effects of a growth plate injury can vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. Common considerations include:
- Growth Impairment: Severe growth plate injuries can lead to unequal bone growth, resulting in limb length discrepancies or angular deformities.
- Joint Function: Growth plate injuries near joints may affect joint function and mobility.
- Arthritis: Some growth plate injuries, particularly those involving the joint surface, may increase the risk of developing arthritis in adulthood.
- Recovery Time: The time it takes for a child to recover from a growth plate injury varies, but early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help minimize long-term complications.
The doctors at Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists, are experts in treating growth plate injuries and Fractures. To ensure your child’s bones heal properly, call us for an appointment
What are Growth Plate Fractures?
A child’s or adolescent’s growth plate can crack or break, and this condition is known as a growth plate fracture. A growth plate is a portion of cartilage-based tissue that is located at the extremities of the body’s long bones. Cartilage is a flexible, rubbery material (fingers, arms, and legs). Every long bone in the body has two growth plates, one on each end. As the kid develops, the growth plates dictate the length and form of the child’s bones. The growth plates will form into solid bone when a youngster has reached its maximum height.
Types of Growth Plate Fractures
Simple or open fractures are both possible:
- Simple fractures are breaks or fissures in the bone that do not penetrate the skin.
- Open fractures are breaks in which the bone protrudes through the skin.
Multiple Factors can Result in Growth Plate Fractures:
Traumatic fractures develop as a result of trauma, such as falling when jogging, cycling, or using a skateboard. Children who are healthy and have strong bones can sustain these kinds of wounds. The bone fractures when it is subjected to a force it cannot withstand. Most fractures result from trauma. Growth plate injuries can result from trauma that fractures bones. Children who repeatedly perform the same position or action for extended periods of time risk developing stress fractures. Additionally, repeated movements might harm development plates. Stress fractures are rare.
The reason why bones break pathologically is that they are weaker than usual. Typically, a pathologic fracture results from holes in the bone (bony cysts) or certain bone disorders, including brittle bone disorder (osteogenesis imperfecta), which causes bones to shatter readily. This is a rare reason for fractures.
Causes of Growth Plate Fractures
Growth plate fractures frequently result from a single incident, such as a fall or auto collision. As a result of recurrent stress on the bone, which can happen when a youngster overtrains in a sport, they can also develop gradually. Growth plate injuries can happen to any kid who is still developing, however, there are several things that may increase the risk:
- Boys get growth plate fractures twice as frequently as females do because girls reach their full height earlier than boys.
- When taking part in competitive sports like football, basketball, or gymnastics, growth plate fractures frequently happen.
- When engaging in leisure activities like riding, sledding, skiing, or skating, many growth plate fractures happen.
- Adolescence is the time when growth plate fractures are most common.
Symptoms of a Growth Plate Fracture
Depending on how bad the fracture is, different growth plate fracture symptoms may occur. A youngster may have moderate discomfort occasionally, while other times the damage may be more obvious and urgent. A growth plate fracture may cause the following symptoms:
- Swelling or agony in the affected limb.
- The wounded region has a clear malformation.
- Inability to use or move the damaged region normally.
- The wounded region may feel heated, bruised, or red.
Treatment of Growth Plate Injuries
The nature of the damage determines the treatment plan for growth plate injuries. Following an accident, therapy should begin as soon as feasible and often consists of one or more of the following.
Fracture Reduction
Following the standard alignment of fractured bones, the doctor places the afflicted limb in a cast or splint to inhibit movement and give the bone time to heal. Your kid or teen should minimize any activities that put pressure on the wounded region to assist in encouraging recovery. The doctor will typically need to realign the bones or joints in your child’s body if their injuries result in the ends of the broken bones being out of alignment (displaced). The name of this process is Fracture reduction. The method that surgeons use to fix bones depends on the kind of growth plate fracture that your kid has. When a doctor does a closed reduction, they use their hands to set and position the bone.
Open Reduction
Based on the injury, some growth plate injuries and fractures will require surgery to align and stabilize the bones. The surgery usually requires smooth metal pins to hold the bone in place to cause the proper fusion of the damaged growth plate. After surgery, doctors often use a cast to immobilize the injured area to allow proper bone healing. The cast should be left in place until the injury is fully healed.
The bone can, for instance, be misaligned or a little longer or shorter than intended. Your doctor will often advise follow-up visits to check on the progress of the bone and look for any changes in growth and development in order to help prevent issues with bone growth. Most kids and teenagers who get prompt treatment recover without experiencing further development issues. Depending on the sort of activity and your kid’s recuperation, you can determine when your child can resume normal activities and sports.
Exercises for Enhancing Strength and Motion
After the wound has healed, your child’s doctor could suggest activities to strengthen the muscles that support the wounded portion of the bone. A stronger youngster will be better able to move the joint as it should be able to with the aid of strengthening. To create an activity program, a physical therapist can collaborate with your kid.
How is a Fractured Growth Plate Managed?
In order to prevent it from impeding normal bone growth, a growth plate fracture has to be treated very carefully and expertly. The severity of the growth plate and connected bone fracture will determine the appropriate course of treatment. The various growth plate fracture types are handled in the following manner:
Type I fracture
In order to preserve the growth plate as it heals, the doctor may frequently advise the patient to wear a cast. In most situations, the bone will have healed properly when the doctor removes the cast.
Type II fracture
To ensure that the bone heals properly, doctors will recommend placing the limb in a cast after the doctor puts the bones into their proper position. After that, normal healing happens.
Type III fracture
In such cases, doctors may recommend surgery.
Type IV fracture
Surgery is frequently required for this kind of break. To make sure all the broken components are aligned for healing, metal screws, pins, or plates may also be advised.
Type V fracture
Surgery is necessary for this fracture since it refers to a significant injury that will stunt the child’s growth.
Conclusion
Even though every person is unique, recovery from a growth plate fracture usually takes several weeks. To keep an eye on the child and ensure that the bones are continuing to repair and grow normally, the doctor may also ask for numerous follow-up sessions to conduct X-rays to ensure that bone growth is proceeding correctly. The doctors at Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists, with offices in Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, and McKinney, TX, can advise specific workouts or physical therapy once the fracture has healed. This will aid in the patient’s recovery of mobility, strengthen the muscles around the wounded area, and minimize any stiffness that may develop after weeks of immobilization.
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Footnote:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Growth Plate Fractures
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