Salter-Harris Fractures

Review on Salter-Harris Fractures!

Type I: “Slipped

  • Separation through physis
  • X-rays often normal (may have lateral displacement of epiphysis)
  • Diagnosis clinical (point tenderness over growth plate)
  • Usually can be managed w/ closed reduction techniques
  • Doesn’t require perfect alignment + tends to remodel w/ growth

Type II: “Above”

  • Fracture through portion of physis, but extending through metaphysis
  • Usually can be managed w/ closed reduction techniques
  • Doesn’t require perfect alignment + tends to remodel w/ growth

Type III: “Lower”

  • Fracture through portion of physis extending through epiphysis + into the joint
  • Requires anatomic alignment to prevent any stepoff + to realign growth cells of physis

Type IV: “Together/Through”

  • Fracture across metaphysis, physis, epiphysis
  • Prognosis may be poor
  • Requires anatomic alignment to prevent any stepoff + to realign growth cells of physis

Type V: “Ruined”

  • Crush injury to physis (no physeal fracture/displacement)
  • Can cause growth arrest + poor prognosis due to disruption of germinal matrix, hypertrophic regions + vascular supply
  • Causes include frostbite, electric shock, irradiation
  • Very difficult to differentiate from Type I
  • Usually not diagnosed initially (presents w/ growth disturbance)

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2 comments

  1. Thanks for the lesson on Salter-Harris fxs! I actually need to have a good understanding of medical terms and conditions with the work I do, so I appreciate your weekly primers.
    Molly @alsoranagain recently posted…Oh My Nuun: It’s My First Giveaway!My Profile

    1. Yay! So glad to hear that! There’s definitely a wholeeeee ton more coming up! :]!

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