Growth Plate Fractures

Growth plate fractures are a type of bone fracture (broken bone) that affects kids and teens. The growth plate is a section of cartilage children have at both ends of some bones, including the:

• Humerus (upper arm bone).
• Radius and ulna (forearm bones).
• Metacarpals (bones in the palm of your hand).
• Femur (thigh bone).

The growth plate is exactly what it sounds like — a special piece that helps bones grow and develop into the correct size and shape. Growth plates harden into solid bone when a child has finished growing.

Visit a healthcare provider if your child has bone pain, swelling or one of their body parts looks noticeably different or out of place. Most growth plate fractures take several weeks to heal, and it’s important to get them diagnosed and treated right away.

Types of growth plate fractures

Healthcare providers classify growth plate fractures using the Salter-Harris system which divides them into five types:

• Type 1 growth plate fractures: A break that separates the growth plate cartilage from the end of your child’s bone.
• Type 2 growth plate fractures: The crack in your child’s growth plate spreads to the shaft of their bone, too. Type 2 growth plate fractures are the most common type.
• Type 3 growth plate fractures: The fracture breaks a piece of growth plate and the end of the affected bone loose. Type 3 growth plate fractures are more common in teens and older children because their growth plate has started hardening into adult bone.
• Type 4 growth plate fractures: Similar to type 3 fractures, but more severe. The fracture breaks off a piece of growth plate, the end of the bone and its shaft.
• Type 5 growth plate fractures: A crack in the growth plate caused by crushing pressure on a bone. Type 5 fractures are the least common type.

How common are growth plate fractures?

Growth plate fractures are one of the most common bone injuries children experience. Around one-third of all childhood bone fractures are growth plate fractures.