At Shoreline Orthopaedics, our orthopaedic surgeons use a truly collaborative approach so our patients have the benefit of multiple expert opinions, without having to go elsewhere to obtain them.
Shoreline Orthopaedics provides more comprehensive services, state-of-the-art options, technologies and techniques than anyone else in the area.
The following information is provided to help you understand what you can expect from us regarding policies and procedures, and also what is expected of you before and after treatment or procedures.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of anatomy, terminology, certain orthopaedic procedures, and more. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your physician.
A child's long bones do not grow from the center outward. Instead, growth occurs in the growth plates—areas of developing cartilage located near the ends of long bones.
The growth plate regulates growth and helps determine the length and shape of the mature bone. Only when a child is fully grown do the growth plates harden (ossify) into solid bone. In fact, because muscles and bones develop at different rates of speed, a child's bones may actually be weaker than the ligaments that connect them. This makes the growth plates more vulnerable to fracture. What is often a bruise or sprain in an adult can be a potentially serious growth plate injury in a growing child.
A child's bones heal faster than an adult's so it is extremely important for your child's injured bone to receive proper treatment immediately, before it can begin to heal. Ideally, this means being examined by an orthopaedic specialist within 5 to 7 days of the injury, especially if manipulation to align the bone is required. Without prompt evaluation, treatment and follow-up care by an orthopaedic surgeon experienced in orthopaedic trauma, the long-term consequences of a growth plate injury may include limbs that are crooked or of unequal length. Fortunately, advances in care have made serious problems such as these quite rare.
Any child who experiences an injury that results in visible deformity, persistent or severe pain, or an inability to move or put pressure on a limb should be examined by a physician immediately. The area around the end of the broken bone (near the joint) will be swollen, warm, very tender, and may appear crooked when compared to the uninjured side.
All growing children are at risk for a growth plate injury, with a reported peak in adolescents. A growth plate fracture can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as a fall or automobile accident, or it can be the result of chronic stress and overuse. Studies have shown that these fractures occur twice as often in boys; one third are due to competitive sports such as football, basketball or gymnastics; and approximately 20 percent occur as a result of activities such as biking, sledding, skiing or skateboarding.
In addition to a physical examination, your child's orthopaedic specialist will probably use X-rays to determine if a growth plate fracture occurred. Other diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or ultrasound may also be requested.
Growth plate fractures are classified according to the degree of damage to the growth plate itself. The Salter-Harris classification of growth plate fractures, as described here, is one of the most widely used.
Treatment depends on the fracture type. Other factors that may affect bone growth and fracture healing include age and health of the patient, associated injuries, and the amount of displacement of the broken ends of the bone (occurring through the growth plates).
Growth plate fractures must be watched carefully to ensure the most successful long-term results. In some patients, a bony bridge will form across the fracture line, preventing the bone from growing longer or causing the bone to curve. Orthopaedic surgeons have developed techniques to remove this bony bar and insert fat, cartilage, or other materials to prevent it from reforming.
In other cases, the fracture actually stimulates growth in the injured bone, causing it become even longer than the healthy bone. Surgical techniques can help achieve a more even length.
Depending on the fracture, it is important to have regular follow-up visits with your physician for one year. Complicated fractures (types III, IV and V) as well as fractures to the thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia) may require follow-up until the child reaches skeletal maturity.