As shown in the xray, each long bone has three separate portions to it:
- Epiphysis – represents each end of the bone
- Diaphysis– represents the middle of the bone
- Metaphysic – portion of the bone between the epiphysis and diaphysis
The "growth plate" of the bone, sits between the metaphysis and the epiphysis, and is actually called the physis. This growth plate, serves the function to the bone as the name describes - it is the area where bone grows from. As you can see on the x-ray, the physis is dark while the remainder of the bone is white. This is because the growth plate is made of cartilage and cartilage does not have calcium. Bone, of course, does have calcium and it is the calcification within bone that gives it a white appearance on x-rays.
Bone is inherently stronger than cartilage and therefore, if given the correct mechanism of injury, the cartilage is more likely to be injured than the surrounding bone. Since the growth plate is made of cartilage, it becomes more susceptible to injury given the right circumstances.
The problem with growth plate fractures is that there is a chance that the injury can lead to either complete destruction of the growth area or a partial destruction. If the entire growth area is disturbed, that may lead to one limb being longer than another. If only a portion of the growth area is disturbed, not only may the limb be shorter, but it may be crooked as well. The most common growth plate fractures treated at COA are as follows:
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Trauma Research at COA
