Is a fractured growth plate serious?
Is a fractured growth plate serious?
Is a fractured growth plate serious?
Because the growth plate helps determine the future length and shape of the mature bone, this type of fracture usually requires prompt attention. If not treated properly, it could result in a limb that is crooked or unequal in length when compared to its opposite limb. Fortunately, serious problems are rare.
What happens if you fracture your growth plate?
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.
Do growth plate fractures require surgery?
Some growth plate fractures require surgery to ensure the growth plate is optimally aligned for normal growth of that bone. The surgery is called open reduction and internal fixation. It consists of exposing the bone to put it in place with screws and plates.
How long does it take a fractured growth plate in ankle to heal?
Growth plate fractures in the ankle that occur at the end of the fibula, commonly associated with a typical ankle sprain, may not present on an X-ray. These often require about four to six weeks of recovery.
How does a fractured growth plate heal?
What Are Growth Plate Fractures Treated? Often, a growth plate fracture may be mild and need only rest and a cast or splint. But if bones are out of place (or displaced), they have to be put back into the right position with a procedure called a reduction. A reduction is also called “setting the bone.”
How do you treat a fractured growth plate?
How long does a fractured ankle growth plate take to heal?
How do you tell if you broke your growth plate in your ankle?
Symptoms of an Injured Ankle Growth Plate
- Pain, swelling and tenderness.
- Bruising and misshaped appearance.
- Inability to bear weight.
- Tears or open skin wound.
Can you walk on a fractured growth plate?
A walking boot may be an option in this situation. But, depending on how significant the break is, a child could need a short leg cast (from toes to just below the knee) and may not be able to put weight on the leg for several weeks.
What happens if you fracture your growth plate in your ankle?
These fractures cross through a portion of the growth plate and break off a piece of the bone end. They often damage the growth plate. Long-term risks are that the joint will not heal properly, and that growth will be uneven, leading to a crooked ankle.