Information about Arizona Injuries and Growth Plate Fractures
by Phoenix Growth Plate Fracture Attorney - Mark Breyer
The bones of children and adults share many of the same risks for injury. However, a child’s bones are also at risk for a unique injury called a growth plate fracture. Growth plate fractures can occur as a result of a traumatic event like a car crash. Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage tissue near the ends of long bones. The growth plate regulates and helps determine the length and shape of the mature bone. Because growth plates are the last portion of bones to harden they are vulnerable to fracture. In fact because a child’s bones develop at different speeds and child’s bones may be weaker than the ligament tissues that connect the bones to other bones. A child with an injury from a car accident or fall should see a doctor as quickly as possible to get proper treatment before it begins to heal. The fracture will not need to stay in a cast for as long as an adult fracture would require for healing.
Approximately 15% to 30% of all childhood fractures are growth plate fractures. These often require immediate attention because the long-term consequences may include limbs that are crooked or of unequal length. There are 5 main types of growth plate fractures that all affect the bone differently.
All children who are still growing are at risk for a growth plate injury. These injuries are reported to peak in adolescents. Growth plate fractures occur twice as often in boys as in girls. A 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 doctor. The necessary type of treatment depends on the severity of the fracture.
Growth plate fractures must be watched carefully to ensure proper long-term results. In some cases, a bony bridge will form across the fracture line that prevents the bone from getting longer or causes the bone to cure. Orthopaedic surgeons have developed techniques to remove the bony bar and insert fat, cartilage, or other materials to prevent it from reforming.
If you child has been involved in an accident resulting in injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, the Husband and Wife Law Team of Phoenix personal injury attorneys is available for a free consultation.
