The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Children need specialized care for broken bones.
Many of us break a bone or two during childhood. Most heal perfectly well with normal, straightforward treatment. Yet children’s growing bones always require careful diagnosis and treatment, says Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatric orthopaedic surgeon Thomas Kuivila, MD.
Growth plates
Growth plates are thin cartilage discs at each end of children’s long bones (legs, arms, fingers, toes and collar bones). As cells in the growth plates multiply, the bones grow longer. When growth is complete – about age 14 in girls and age 16 in boys – hormones cause the cartilage to turn into solid bone and the growth plates disappear.
Until then, however, growth plates are somewhat fragile. Injury – or inappropriate treatment of a growth plate injury – can affect normal growth and development. “Growth plate injuries can be painful,” says Dr. Kuivila. “They can also affect how well and how long your child’s arms, legs, hands and feet grow.”
Growth plate injuries happen similarly to broken bones. They can be caused by:
• Trauma (such as a fall or collision) • Overuse (from repetitive activities)
“Stressed limbs break at the weakest point,” explains Dr. Kuivila. “Because cartilage is weaker than bone, childhood injuries commonly occur in the growth plates.” Growth plate injuries can be treated with casts or splints. If a bone is out of alignment, your child may need surgery to reposition the bone.
Signs of growth plate damage
If your child complains of pain in the shoulder or joints, look for these signs:
• Tenderness at a single point • Inability to continue activity due to pain • Change in performance • A deformed limb
Broken bones can’t wait
If you suspect your child has injured a bone or growth plate, it’s time to make an appointment for an evaluation by a pediatric orthopaedic specialist. Children with orthopaedic problems need to be treated according to their age, development and size. Without treatment, children can have more pain and risk more severe, possibly growth-stunting damage.
Dr. Kuivila sees patients at Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center, Mentor Medical Office Building, and main campus. For an appointment with Dr. Kuivila or another Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatric orthopaedic specialist, please call 216.444.2606.
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Same-Day Fracture Care Program offers fast access to specialized pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. If your child has a fracture, they can be seen the same day for immediate evaluation and management; call 216.444.6260 before 1 p.m.