FRACTURES AND GROWTH PLATE INJURIES IN CHILDREN
CATHERINE OWENS

RESUMO
Paediatric fractures have both favourable and unfavourable features compared to adult fractures. In children, bone healing is quick and growth re-modeling can correct and improve, even with the most traumatic deformities. On the other hand, fractures in children involve growing bone, especially if they are in the region of the physis (growth plate). This may cause subsequent deformity, with limb shortening and early degenerative change, due to abnormalities in the joint alignment etc.
Fractures in children differ compared to adult fractures in terms of their pattern, diagnosis and treatment, due to the different anatomical, bio-mechanical and physiological features of growing bone.