
What is a growth plate fracture?
A fracture is a broken bone.
A growth plate is the area of cartilage near the end of a bone. Growth plates are where bones grow. Only children and adolescents have growth plates, because after bones are done growing, growth plates turn into regular bone.
Cartilage is softer than bone so it breaks more easily.
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Only children and adolescents get growth plate fractures—adults have bone where the growth plates used to be
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A growth plate fracture hurts and swells just like any broken bone
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A growth plate fracture can stop the bone from growing or make it grow crooked
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Your child will need a cast or splint
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Rarely, doctors have to do surgery to put the bones back in place