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General Medicine

Physeal Injuries in Children: Salter-Harris Classification, Sports Medicine

Rachel A. Coel, MD, PhD, FAAP, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • In pediatric bone, the primary areas of growth include the physis and the epiphysis.

  • Physeal injuries may occur in the skeletally immature population from acute trauma as well as from...

DIAGNOSIS

Salter-Harris classification of epiphyseal plate injuries 1[C]: 

  • Type I: injury including complete separation of epiphysis from metaphysis without bone fracture

  • Type II: Separation occurs part...

TREATMENT

Emergency department (ED) treatment: 

  • Nondisplaced or minimally displaced type I and II fractures: splint immobilization, ice, elevation, and sports medicine or pediatric orthopedics referral...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Consider bracing for sports activity for another 3 to 4 wk after initial rigid immobilization is complete. 

Patient Monitoring

ALERT

Patients, especially those with ...

REFERENCES

1
Salter RB, Harris WR. Injuries involving the epiphyseal plate. J Bone Joint Surg Am.  1963;45:587–622.
2
Cepela DJ, Tartaglione JP, Dooley TP, et al. Classifications in brief: Salter-Ha...

SEE ALSO

Osgood-Schlatter Disease; Sever Disease/Calcaneal Apophysitis 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • The Salter-Harris classification system of physeal injuries in children describes growth plate injuries by the level of involvement of the physis, the bone, and the joint.

  • Growth plate ...

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