The classification and prognosis of epiphyseal injuries.
Because of the difficulty of assessing prognosis, a clinical and radiological review of 103 injuries of growth plates was performed. Thirteen patients showed retardation of growth and in 4 it was clinically obvious. In addition, external deformity occurred because of failure of remodelling in 1 case. In 9 cases there appeared to be slight stimulation of growth. The correlation between the Salter-Harris classification and retardation of growth was not always clear, especially in Salter-Harris type IV injuries, wherein prognosis varied with site. At the distal end of the tibia two groups of type IV injury were identified having respectively a 0 and 62.5 per cent incidence of retardation of growth. A new classification of distal injuries of the tibia is proposed, with superior predictive value for retardation of growth than that of Salter and Harris. This is valuable as a guide to prognosis and may facilitate treatment.
D000293:Adolescent; D001846:Bone Development; D002648:Child; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D000072042:Salter-Harris Fractures; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications