A serious child injury case involving a broken bone or fractured arm, leg or other bone can present a number of complications, which an adult might not have to deal with, which merit a brief review which include but are not limited to the following:

Growth Plate Fractures

The skeletal structure of both adults and children share many of the same risks of injury. Children however are also subject to a unique injury referred to as a growth plate fracture. The growth plate, also referred to as the epiphyseal plate or physis, is that area of growing tissue located near the end of the long bones in children and adolescents. Each long bone has at least two growth plates with one being located at each end of the bone.

The growth plate essentially determines the length and shape of the mature bone when it is fully developed which generally happens during adolescents. After the growth plates close, they are replaced by solid bone. Generally, growth plates are the weakest skeletal areas of children and adolescents. They are more vulnerable to injury and could result in a growth plate fracture.

Growth plate injuries occur almost twice as often in boys than in girls due in part to the fact that girls bodies mature earlier than boys which means that their bones finish growing sooner so the growth plates are replaced with solid bone. Additionally, one third of all growth plate injuries result from sports injuries while about one fifth result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, chronic stress and overuse.

A child who has persistent pain or has a great deal of difficulty in moving the affected limb could be just told to live with the pain rather than be seen by a specialist to determine if a growth plate has been fractured. In certain instances, if left untreated, a growth plate fracture may result in a permanent disability or may interfere with the proper growth of the limb.

The care and treatment of a growth plate injury should be commenced as soon as possible. If your child is seriously injured or fractures or breaks a bone, you should contact us as soon as possible so you can be advised of your rights and you can be advised as to what you should be doing to protect your child so as to help get the best possible medical result and so you can help get the most amount of money for your child's injuries. Call us at (888) 244-5480 or visit us at www.hcwlaw.com to get our FREE book.