Introduction
Growth plate injuries, also known as physeal injuries, are a common occurrence among children and adolescents. Numerous factors, including trauma, repeated stress, or certain medical disorders, might contribute to these injuries. Since the growth plate is weaker than the surrounding bone, it is more prone to injury. Growth plate injuries have specific indications and symptoms, which medical experts, parents, and coaches should be aware of. If such injuries are suspected, they should be treated immediately. Early intervention and appropriate care, including immobilization, physical therapy, and even surgical intervention, can greatly enhance results and lower the likelihood of future problems.
What Are Growth Plates?
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The growth plate is a region of tissue located close to the extremities of long bones in children and adolescents that specifies the final length and form of the bone. There are two growth plates on either end of each long bone, including the thigh bone, the forearm bones, and the hands and fingers.
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The growth plates collapse and are replaced by solid bone when the child has finished growing.
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Closed growth plates are the ones that have fully calcified into solid bone. The closing of the growth plate stops bone development.
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When puberty ends, growth plates often close. This usually happens between the ages of 13 and 15 for females and between the ages of 15 and 17 for boys.
What Are Growth Plate Injuries?
For kids and teenagers, growth plates are the softest regions of the skeleton. Injury or overuse can cause the tissue to fracture. Growth plate fractures can result from even minor traumas because growth plates are weaker than bones. It can happen as a result of overuse or a single stressful incident like a fall or automobile accident.
What Are the Causes of a Growth Plate Fracture?
Both small and severe incidents can cause a growth plate fracture in children. Growth plate fractures can also be brought on by excessive sports use. Growth plate fractures are more likely to occur in some kids, such as kids and teenagers who:
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Train hard for any activity, whether it is basketball, baseball, or gymnastics.
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Indulge in risky activities like horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, or other sports.
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Inherit illnesses that diminish the strength of the bones.
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Has infection of the bones.
Additionally, depending on elements like heredity and the sex given at birth, growth plates become harder and seal at various stages. Females often reach adulthood years before males do. This indicates that males frequently have open growth plates for a considerably longer period than females. They are more likely to sustain damage to their growth plates as a result.
What Are the Clinical Manifestations of Growth Plate Injuries?
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Constant pain and discomfort following an unexpected or overuse injury. After a previous injury, parents could find that their child decreases their playing time.
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Sharp pain at the area of injury.
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Upon touching, the area of injury is tender.
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The inability to move, bear weight on the leg, and engage in leisure activities.
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Obvious changes to the arm or leg's shape.
What Are the Various Types of Growth Injuries?
Growth plate fractures are categorized by specialists using the Salter-Harris method. Classifying fractures according to their severity aids surgeons in deliberations and care of the injuries. Below is a description of growth injury classification:
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Type 1 - A type 1 fracture separates the growth plate and bone from the bone shaft by breaking the bone at the growth plate.
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Type 2 - A type 2 fracture cracks the bone shaft by piercing the growth plate of the bone. The most frequent growth plate fractures are type II fractures.
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Type 3 - A break that comprises a fracture across the growth plate and a fractured portion of the main bone is known as a type 3 fracture. Type III fractures are more common in older children.
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Type 4 - A type 4 fracture occurs when the growth plate, bone shaft, and end of the bone are all broken.
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Type 5 - A type 5 fracture develops when the growth plate and bone are crushed by a powerful force.
How Is Damage to the Growth Plate Identified?
A physician will evaluate the child's symptoms and medical background. They will perform a physical examination to check for pain and edema. Imaging studies will be requested by the physician if they have a growth plate damage suspicion. An X-ray may frequently produce detailed images of the bone, growth plates, and any fractures. To obtain more precise pictures, medical professionals may turn to further imaging procedures like an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scan.
How Are Growth Plate Injuries Treated?
Treatment for growth plate fractures might vary depending on the nature and site of the fracture, the child's age, and general health. Below are some usual therapy choices.
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Immobilization - The main course of therapy is frequently to apply a cast to the wounded region and restrict activity until it heals. Growth plates can remain in their original positions when healing with immobilization. The duration of immobilization is determined by how severe the fracture is.
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Surgery - When doctors believe that bones will not mend properly on their own, they conduct surgery. Bones can be realigned during surgery and fixed in place using surgical screws or wires.
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Observation - It might not always be clear how much harm a growth plate injury has caused. When this occurs, doctors frequently prescribe routine X-rays for kids after initial therapy to make sure their bones develop properly. The observation phase can last for a long time.
What Issues Might Arise From a Growth Plate Injury?
Many fractures of the development plate heal without causing long-term problems. Growth plate fractures, however, may affect the development of new bones in the future. They may cause limb form modifications, limb imbalances, or a decrease in height.
Surgery can occasionally resolve these kinds of problems, yet on occasion, the damage may be irreparable. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are the greatest ways to prevent long-term problems.
What Is the Prognosis of Growth Plate Injuries?
For growth plate fractures, the prognosis is frequently favorable. Growth plate fractures can be treated in children and teenagers without long-term problems. Proper diagnosis and treatment are needed to avoid any future problems with bone growth due to growth plate injury.
Conclusion
In conclusion, because of the possible effects, growth plate injuries can have on a child's growth and development, they are a serious issue in pediatric orthopedics. If these injuries are not treated appropriately, they may result in long-term consequences for a variety of reasons. To reduce the hazards connected with growth plate injuries, prompt diagnosis, adequate treatment, and vigilant monitoring are crucial.
