title: Growth plate injuries: Salter-Harris classification.
abstract: Fracture of the growth plate is an injury unique to childhood. Most such fractures heal without permanent deformity. A small percentage, however, are complicated by growth arrest and subsequent deformity. The Salter-Harris classification of growth plate injuries aids in estimating both the prognosis and the potential for growth disturbance. The Salter-Harris system classifies growth plate fractures into five groups: type I, fracture through the growth plate; type II, fracture through the growth plate and metaphysis; type III, fracture through the growth plate and epiphysis; type IV, fracture through the growth plate, epiphysis and metaphysis, and type V, crush or compression injury of the growth plate.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: DeLuca
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D004839:Epiphyses, Slipped / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D000072042:Salter-Harris Fractures