What Is a Growth Plate Fracture and Can It Happen After an Accident?
Accidents can lead to many types of injuries, but when a child or teenager is involved, one of the most concerning is a growth plate fracture. These injuries are unique to young people whose bones are still developing, and they require careful medical attention to avoid long-term complications.
If your child was hurt in an accident, whether in a car crash, on a playground, while playing sports, or due to a hazardous condition on someone else’s property, understanding your legal rights is essential. Connect with a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer early in the recovery process. An attorney will investigate the accident, work with medical experts to gather documentation of long-term consequences, and fight for the financial recovery your family needs.
Understanding What a Growth Plate Is
A growth plate, also known as a physis, is a layer of cartilage located near the ends of a child’s long bones. These plates are where new bone tissue forms, allowing bones to grow longer as a child matures. Because growth plates are softer and more vulnerable than fully developed bone, they are more prone to injury, especially when subjected to sudden force or trauma.
Growth plates are present in areas such as the wrists, ankles, knees, and shoulders. They typically remain open until late adolescence when they harden into solid bone. These types of fractures usually happen when a child experiences a sudden impact or twist.
Often these injuries result from car accidents, sports collisions, falls, and recreational activities. In any accident involving a young person, growth plate damage should always be considered, even if the symptoms appear mild at first.
Why These Injuries Matter
A child with a growth plate fracture may experience pain, moving difficulties, swelling, limping, or visible deformities. Because growth plates are harder to evaluate than bone, X-rays alone may not always clearly show the injury. Pediatric orthopedic evaluation is typically needed to ensure proper diagnosis.
Growth plate fractures must be taken seriously because they can affect how a child’s bone grows. Without proper treatment, a fracture could lead to:
- Uneven limb length
- Abnormal bone shape
- Chronic pain
- Limited range of motion
- The need for corrective surgeries in the future
Prompt medical treatment is essential, and so is documenting how the injury occurred.
When a child’s growth plate fracture resulted from someone else’s careless actions (another driver, a negligent property owner, a school that failed to maintain safe play areas, or a business that allowed hazards to go unaddressed) you may be entitled to pursue compensation.
Pediatric injuries require careful handling. Growth plate fractures can have lasting effects, but with strong legal support from a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer and medical support, your child can receive the care and compensation needed to protect their future.
Could professional legal guidance be what you and your family need? After sustaining injuries in a Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach accident, talk to the attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez about accessing fair settlement. Call 561-660-9421 today.
