What would happen if the epiphyseal plate is damaged?
Because the growth plate is where new bone develops, injury to this area can cause the plate to close prematurely and stop bone growth. Fractures in the proximal tibia (top of the shin bone) or distal femur (bottom of the thighbone) are the most common epiphyseal plate injuries that lead to growth stoppage.
Can you damage growth plates?
Growth plate injuries can be caused by a trauma from a fall or injury from a competitive sport. It can also be the result of overuse from a repetitive activity, such as softball pitching. Growth plate injuries account for approximately 15 to 30% of all fractures doctors treat in children and adolescents.
What is the effect of epiphyseal plate ossification?
When bone growth is complete, the epiphyseal cartilage is replaced with bone, which joins it to the diaphysis. Fractures of the epiphyseal plates in children can lead to slow bone growth or limb shortening. The coordinated activity of these bone cells allows bone to grow, repair itself, and change shape.
Could this injury impact bone growth at her epiphyseal plates?
Most growth plate fractures heal and do not affect future bone growth. However, sometimes changes in the growth plate from the fracture can cause problems later. For example, the bone could end up a little crooked or slightly longer or shorter than expected.
What happens if a child’s growth plate is damaged?
If a fracture goes through a growth plate, it can result in a shorter or crooked limb. 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 — sometimes even weaker than surrounding ligaments and tendons.
When do Epiphyses fuse?
This replacement is known as epiphyseal closure or growth plate fusion. Complete fusion happens on average between ages 15 and 20 for girls (with the most common being 15–18 years for girls) and between 17 and 24 for boys (with the most common being 18–22 years for boys).
What happens if you break your growth plate in your ankle?
The most common growth plate injury at the ankle is at the end of the fibula. This type of break is similar to an ankle sprain and usually does not show up on an X-ray. Symptoms include ankle pain, tenderness and swelling over the area where the growth plate is located.
Can you walk on a fractured growth plate?
Symptoms include ankle pain, tenderness and swelling over the area where the growth plate is located. Treatment usually involves about four to six weeks in a walking boot. After that, it may take another two weeks to regain strength in the ankle before a child can return to running, jumping and sports.
How is a growth plate fracture treated?
Growth Plate Fracture Treatment Growth plate fractures are generally treated with splints or casts. Sometimes, the bone may need to be put back in place to allow it to heal in the correct position. This may be done before or after the cast is placed and is called a closed reduction.
What is epiphyseal plate made of?
The epiphyseal plate (or epiphysial plate, physis, or growth plate) is a hyaline cartilage plate in the metaphysis at each end of a long bone.
What causes epiphyseal fracture?
Growth plate fractures often are caused by a fall or a blow to the limb, as might occur in: A car accident. Competitive sports, such as football, basketball, running, dancing or gymnastics. Recreational activities, such as biking, sledding, skiing or skateboarding.
What happens when an epiphyseal plate is broken?
Fractures of the epiphyseal plates in children can lead to slow bone growth or limb shortening. The coordinated activity of these bone cells allows bone to grow, repair itself, and change shape. Even mature bone constantly changes, with new cells being formed and old cells being destroyed.
How does an injury to the growth plate affect bone growth?
Growth Plate Injuries. Because the growth plate is where new bone develops, injury to this area can cause the plate to close prematurely and stop bone growth. Fractures in the proximal tibia (top of the shin bone) or distal femur (bottom of the thighbone) are the most common epiphyseal plate injuries that lead to growth stoppage.
Where are the growth plates and epiphyses located?
Growth plates and epiphyses are areas located at the ends of long bones, in which new bone is produced. Pre-adolescent and adolescent bones are not yet mature and trauma can lead to disruption of bone growth patterns by causing the growth plate to close prematurely.
Can a broken growth plate cause growth stoppage?
Fractures in the proximal tibia (top of the shin bone) or distal femur (bottom of the thighbone) are the most common epiphyseal plate injuries that lead to growth stoppage. A child who breaks a leg and experiences a damaged growth plate may develop a limb-length discrepancy, where the healthy leg grows longer than the broken leg.