Growth plate fractures often require immediate treatment, since they can permanently affect how your child’s bones grow. If your child is experiencing tenderness, joint stiffness, or difficulty bearing weight on a limb, contact the OrthoHouston office in Sugar Land and Katy, Texas, right away. You can book your child’s growth plate injury evaluation with us through the website, or you can call to speak with a team member.
During growth, your child has softer tissue growing near the ends of their bones. These areas, known as growth plates, are the most delicate and weak sections of your child’s skeleton and thus, are prone to injury. Some of the most common causes of growth plate injuries include:
Growth plate fractures are twice as likely in boys than in girls. That’s because girls complete their growth spurt sooner than boys. Because of this, girls’ bones are matured, and soft tissue is often replaced with solid bone, as early as age 12.
Yes. Growth plate fractures most commonly affect the thigh bone (femur), lower leg bones (tibia and fibula), outer forearm bone (radius), and ankle, to name a few. Depending on the severity and location of your child’s growth plate injury, they may experience any of the following issues:
Because growth plate injuries can affect your child’s development, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms and come to the office at the first sign of an injury.
The Doctors usually need to gather on-site imaging, such as an X-ray, although he specializes in minimal radiation exposure for children and adolescents. Once the Doctors diagnose your child’s growth plate injury, he can talk with you about treatment options, which may include:
Our providers are compassionate pediatric orthopedists who understand how overwhelming and painful growth plate injuries can be. They spend time talking with you and your child to ensure you have the education you need to make informed decisions throughout the entire rehabilitation process.
If your child suffered from a growth plate injury, contact the office right away. You can conveniently schedule an appointment either online or over the phone.
