Overcoming the Long-Term Risks of Growth Plate Injuries

Help Your Child Move Past a Growth Plate Injury With Help From Our Meridian and Caldwell Podiatrists

Growth plate fractures are common among active children and young athletes. Although these injuries can almost always be treated, seeking prompt care is critical to ensuring your child’s recovery. Left untreated, growth plate injuries have the potential to cause long-term complications that might be disabling and require surgical intervention.

Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle’s experienced team of pediatric podiatrists and board-certified surgeons have spent years helping Ada and Canyon County children move past growing pains. If you believe your child may have suffered a growth plate injury while playing sports or exploring the outdoors, don’t delay. Call or send us a message online to schedule an appointment at our Meridian or Caldwell office.

An Overview of Growth Plates

Podiatrist examining child's foot for growth plate injury | Experienced Idaho Podiatrist

Growth plates are small zones of cartilage found throughout the body, typically on both ends of large and prominent bones. Cartilage—a type of strong and connective tissue—is the same substance that gives the nose its flexibility. It’s not quite as strong or rigid as bone but can absorb tremendous amounts of pressure. In children, the cartilage base of growth plates expands slowly, eventually solidifying and turning into bone.

The most important growth plates are those of the:

Femur

Lower legs

Forearm

Bones of the hands and feet

Although growth plates are protected by bone, muscle, and tissue, they’re still considerably weaker than other parts of the skeletal system. Children and growing teenagers—especially those who play sports, or are otherwise physically active—can sometimes be injured through growth plates if they fall, slip, or otherwise hurt in a traumatic accident.

Growth plate injuries can almost always be treated without any long-term complications. However, even minor growth plate injuries could impede bone growth without proper care.

Growth Plate Injuries in Children

Growth plates aren’t technically bone, but injuries to their cartilaginous structure are considered fractures. Most growth plate fractures are caused by:

Motor vehicle collisions

Competitive sports-related trauma

Recreational accidents, like falling from a bicycle or skateboard

In rare cases, growth plate injuries can be caused by overuse and repetitive actions, such as repeatedly throwing a ball or javelin.

Symptoms of a Growth Plate Fracture

Indicators of a growth plate injury often resemble the signs of a low-grade fracture. Here’s what your child might experience:

Pain and tenderness around the injured growth plate
Difficulty moving or flexing the affected limb
An inability to put pressure on the damaged joint
Swelling near the end of a bone
A warm sensation near the site of injury

Some growth plate injuries are more serious than others. Podiatrists typically rate growth plate fractures on a graded scale. Type I growth plate fractures, for instance, are minor injuries that don’t extend into the surrounding bone. In contrast, Type V injuries—the most severe category of growth plate fracture—usually involve extensive crushing damage to the adjoining bone and joint.

Diagnosing and Treating a Growth Plate Injury

Diagnosing growth plate fractures isn’t always easy, even for physicians who regularly consult young patients. At Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle, our podiatrists typically perform a physical examination to determine the probable cause and site of injury. If we believe that your child’s growth plate might be fractured, we may use medical imaging tools—an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan—to inspect the bone and growth plate for damage.

Your child’s options for treatment depend on several factors, including the severity of the injury, their age, and overall health. Common treatment methods include:

Reducing inflammation by placing ice on the affected joint
Stretching exercises to strengthen injured tissue
Immobilization, such as supporting an injured limb in a cast or surgical boot

In some cases, if the injury isn’t especially complex, our podiatrists can simply use their hands to manipulate displaced growth plates back into their correct position. However, more serious fractures sometimes necessitate surgery, from which most children can recover in four to six weeks.

How Professional Care With Our Caldwell and Meridian Podiatrists Help Growth Plate Fractures

Growth plate fractures are common injuries that can almost always be treated. However, waiting too long to seek care can pose a significant risk of longer-term injury. Complications could include:

Malunion, an injury caused by the failure of a healing growth plate to realign with its base bone or joint.
Nonunion, an injury caused by a growth plate’s inability to fully heal.
Stunted growth, which can impact development in the affected plate and cause an individual bone to be shorter or smaller than expected.

Although fracture-related complications have the potential for lifelong disabilities, children’s bodies are surprisingly resilient. Most injuries heal within weeks or months of treatment with the right podiatric care.