Can you walk with a fractured growth plate?

A walking boot may be an option in this situation. But, depending on how significant the break is, a child could need a short leg cast (from toes to just below the knee) and may not be able to put weight on the leg for several weeks.

What happens if you fracture your growth plate in your ankle?

These fractures cross through a portion of the growth plate and break off a piece of the bone end. They often damage the growth plate. Long-term risks are that the joint will not heal properly, and that growth will be uneven, leading to a crooked ankle.

How do you know if you have a growth plate fracture?

Signs and symptoms of a growth plate fracture may include: Pain and tenderness, particularly in response to pressure on the growth plate. Inability to move the affected area or to put weight or pressure on the limb. Warmth and swelling at the end of a bone, near a joint.

Is it better to fracture or sprain an ankle?

A broken ankle is a more severe injury than a sprained ankle. With a clean break that doesn’t need surgery, recovery can take around 6 to 8 weeks. If you need surgery, recovery will take longer. With a minor ankle sprain, it may take around 2 weeks to heal.

What is a fracture of a growth plate?

A growth plate fracture is a break in the growth plate of a child or teen. They happen most often in the bones of the fingers, forearm, and lower leg.

What is growth plate closure?

Since the growth plate is the weakest area of the bone due to its ever-changing structure, when an injury or damage, such as a fracture or break, is sustained in the growth plate before epiphyseal closure, it can bring about a premature stoppage of the cell replication thus halting growth.

What is a growth plate injury?

Growth plate injuries are as their name describes — injuries at the growth plate (or growth center) where tissue develops near the end of long bones in children and adolescents. Until your child reaches skeletal maturity, each long bone in her body has at least two growth (epiphyseal plates) — one at each end.

When your child has a growth plate fracture?

When your child or teen injures a joint, they are more likely to fracture the growth plate. A similar injury in an adult is would cause a sprain. Growth plate fractures occur twice as often in boys as in girls. A girl’s body matures at an earlier age than boys.