A growth plate injury or fracture might result in sudden pain and the quick swelling of your child’s shoulder or elbow. For instance, if your child spends a lot of time throwing balls over their shoulder, this can gradually wear the growth plate located there.
Growth plate injuries
Growth plate fracture
What is a growth plate?
As your child grows, their growth plates define shape and length of their bones. These growth plates are located near the ends of their bones and are made of cartilage, so are softer and less mature than the rest of the bone and more easily broken. Growth plates are vital to the healthy growth of your child’s musculoskeletal system so any fractures or injuries need urgent and expert treatment.
What happens when a growth plate is fractured or injured?
Your child should be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible after their injury. Their bones heal very quickly and a delay in treatment could have long-term effects with your child’s injured limb becoming permanently crooked or unequal to their opposite limb.
Types of growth plate fractures and injuries and their causes
Fingers, forearms and legs are particularly vulnerable to growth plate fractures caused by a fall or other trauma, such as persistent overuse. Higher risk activities such as team sports, gymnastics or skateboarding are often the culprit.
Boys are more likely to experience a growth plate fracture or injury than girls because their bones mature a little later.
Shoulder and elbow
Wrist and fingers
Your child might have pain in their wrist or fingers or find themselves unable to move them due to a fall or persistent use and repetitive motion, such as using a computer keyboard. Stopping that activity when the pain begins can help to prevent it from becoming more serious.
Hip, knee, foot and ankle
If your child has a growth plate fracture or injury to their hip, knee, foot or ankle, they are likely to be unable to put weight on that part of their body without pain. They might also struggle to walk entirely.
What are the symptoms of a growth plate injury?
Your child might have a growth plate fracture or injury if:
- Their limb appears crooked or deformed
- They can’t put pressure on the limb
- The joint area near the end of the bone is swollen, sore and hot
How are growth plate injuries and fractures diagnosed?
You can make a first diagnosis by simply looking at how tender the area around your child’s growth plate is.
Your consultant will thoroughly examine your child and talk with them to understand where any pain is located. They may well order an X-ray to confirm a diagnosis and help to classify the type of fracture involved. Although your child’s growth plates are not visible on X-rays, your consultant will still be able to check for signs of fracture, potentially by comparing an X-ray of your child’s injured limb with its opposite to see where the differences lie.
Other imaging tests, such as MRI and CT scans, can help them to see the damage to soft tissues and any other injuries in the area. This will help them advise on the best course of treatment for your child.
Growth plate treatment and surgery
If the fracture is clean, your consultant may suggest a simple cast. This keeps your child’s limb steady and gives it a chance to heal on its own.
If the bone has splintered, surgery may be the best way forward. A surgeon will put bone fragments back in their original place (known as a reduction) and can fix them internally with metal implants. They might also attach a metal brace to the outside of your child’s bone to keep it stable, although this will be removed once it is healed. Your consultant will be able to discuss your options and help to find the best approach.
After surgery, your child will have regular check-ups with their consultant over the following year to ensure that their bones are growing in the right way. Chemistry is important: you need to pick a surgeon that your child feels comfortable with.
What’s the recovery time for a growth plate fracture?
It depends on which bone is fractured and how bad the injury is. It might take as little as a few weeks to heal or it might take a few months. Your child will have the best chance of recovering quickly if they follow the advice of their consultant.
Our locations
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients
15 - 17 Lodge Road NW8 7JA London
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
Golders Green Outpatients
Roman House, 296 Golders Green Road Golders Green NW11 9PY London
Reviewed by
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.