Phoenix Growth Plate Fracture Attorneys

Growth Plate Fractures Are a Risk to Children

The bones of children and adults share many of the same risks for injury. But 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.

If your child was injured in a fall or car accident, they may require extensive medical care to prevent a growth plate injury that could result in long-term severe pain, or an inability to move or put pressure on a limb.

Call a Phoenix growth plate fracture lawyer at The Husband & Wife Law Team for a FREE consultation at (602) 457-6222 if your child’s injury was the result of another person’s negligence. We’ll help you get a settlement to cover the cost of all their medical care. You’ll want to get the process started right away because the statute of limitation for an Arizona personal injury lawsuit is two years from when the accident occurred.

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Childhood Fracture Statistics

A child's bones develop at different speeds, and children's bones may be weaker than the ligament tissues that connect the bones to other bones. 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 five main types of growth plate fractures that affect the bone differently:

• Type 1 injury does not cause the bone to move out of place.
• Type 2 injury breaks through the growth plate and the metaphysis, which contains a spongy interior.
• Type 3 injury breaks through the growth plate of the epiphysis, the tail end of the bone.
• Type 4 injury fractures the growth plate, the metaphysis, and the epiphysis.
• Type 5 is a crush injury compressing the growth plate.

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Treating Growth Plate Fractures

All children who are still growing are at risk for a growth plate injury. These injuries peak in adolescents. Growth plate fractures occur twice as often in boys as in girls. The necessary type of treatment depends on the severity of the fracture.

Your doctor may be able to treat the fracture with immobilization using a cast, splint, or brace. But in many cases surgery is required to ensure a full recovery. This may involve surgical plates, screws, or wires to secure the bone as it heals. A long recovery period involving extensive physical therapy is common for these types of injuries.

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Speak with Our Phoenix Bone Fracture Lawyers Today

Accidents that could harm your children are a nightmare scenario for any parent. As parents of eight kids ourselves, The Husband & Wife Law Team is extremely sympathetic when it comes to injuries involving children.

The Phoenix bone fracture attorneys at The Husband & Wife Law Team are available for a FREE consultation. Call (602) 457-6222 to learn more today.

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Additional Information

• Growth Plate Fractures - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Growth Plate Injuries - NIH
• Growth Plate Fractures - Merck Manual