overview
Illustration of a growth plate fracture
Growth Plate FractureOpen popup dialog box
A growth plate fracture affects the growing layer of tissue near the ends of a child’s bones. Growth plates are the softest and weakest sections of the skeleton – sometimes even weaker than the surrounding ligaments and tendons. An injury that can sprain the joint in an adult can cause the growth plate to tear in a child.
Growth plate fractures often require immediate treatment as they can affect bone growth. An improperly treated growth plate fracture can break a bone that is crooked or shorter than its opposite limb. With proper treatment, most growth plate fractures will heal without complications. Fracture, growth plate Treatment in Hyderabad
symptoms
Most growth plate fractures occur in the bones of the fingers, forearm, and lower leg. The signs and symptoms of a growth plate fracture can include:
- Pain and tenderness, especially in response to pressure on the growth plate
- Inability to move the affected area or to put weight or pressure on the limb
- Heat and swelling at the end of a bone near a joint
The reasons
Broken growth plates are often caused by a fall or blow to the limb, as can occur in:
- A car crash
- Competitive sports such as soccer, basketball, running, dancing or gymnastics
- Leisure activities such as cycling, tobogganing, skiing or skateboarding
Risk factors
Growth plate fractures are twice as common in boys as they are in girls because girls get taller than boys. By the age of 12, most of the girls’ growth plates have matured and replaced with strong bones.
Complications
- Most growth plate fractures heal without complications. However, the following factors can increase your risk of crooked, accelerated, or delayed bone growth.
- Severity of injury. If the growth plate has been moved, broken, or crushed, the risk of limb deformity is greater.
- Age of the child. Young children have more years of growth ahead of them. If the growth plate is permanently damaged, there is a higher risk of deformation.
- When a child is almost done, permanent damage to the growth plate can result in minimal deformity. Fracture, growth plate Treatment in Hyderabad