How long does it take for a Salter-Harris type 1 fracture to heal?
Healing usually takes about 4-6 weeks, at which time it will be safe for your child to return to sports and activities. It is very rare for a Salter-Harris I fracture to cause problems with the growth of the distal fibula (less than 1% of fractures).
What is a Salter type 1 fracture?
A Salter-Harris type I fracture refers to a fracture line that runs straight across the growth plate, involving the cartilage without affecting the bone. Type I may cause the epiphysis, or the rounded end of the bone, to separate from the rest of the bone.
How long does it take for a broken growth plate in your foot to heal?
With proper care, the vast majority of growth plate injuries heal without complication. This will typically involve a few weeks or months in a cast, depending on the location and severity of the injury.
What is a Salter-Harris injury?
Salter-Harris fractures (physeal fractures) refer to fractures through a growth plate (physis) and are therefore specifically applied to bone fractures in children.
How serious is a growth plate injury?
Most growth plate fractures heal with no complications. But the following factors can increase the risk of crooked, accelerated or stunted bone growth. Severity of the injury. If the growth plate has been shifted, shattered or crushed, the risk of limb deformity is greater.
What is a Salter Harris fracture of the growth plate?
Growth plates are made up of cartilage, which is softer and more vulnerable to injury than mature bone. A Salter-Harris I fracture goes through the plane of the growth plate, without injuring the surrounding mature bone. It is the mildest type of fracture that can occur to a growth plate.
What is a type 1 Salter-Harris fracture?
of Salter-Harris fractures are type 1. This fracture occurs when the growth plate is hit and splits away from the joint along with a small piece of the bone shaft. type and happens most often in children over 10.
What happens if a Salter-Harris fracture is not treated?
If a Salter-Harris fracture is not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can lead to permanent growth arrest, during which the bone stops growing entirely. Salter-Harris fractures are the most common types of fractures in children, especially in those assigned male at birth, and are more likely to cause bone deformity or growth arrest at younger ages.
How is a type 5 Salter-Harris fracture diagnosed?
An ultrasound may be useful for imaging in an infant. Type 5 fractures are difficult to diagnose. A widening of the growth plate may provide a clue to this type of injury. Treatment will depend on the type of Salter-Harris fracture, the bone involved, and whether the child has any additional injuries.