Growth plate fracture

Growth plate injuries happen when the soft, developing cartilage near the ends of a child's bones becomes damaged, often during sports or physical activity. Because these injuries can affect how a bone continues to grow, prompt evaluation matters. With the right care, most young athletes heal fully and return safely to the activities they love.

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Medical illustration of knee skeletal anatomy showing femur, tibia, fibula and patella.

Anatomy of the growth plates

Growth plates, also called physes, sit at the ends of most long bones, including those in the arms, legs, fingers and toes. Made of soft cartilage rather than solid bone, they allow a child's bones to lengthen as they grow.

These plates typically close and harden into solid bone by the end of puberty. Until then, they're softer and weaker than the surrounding bone, muscles and tendons, which makes them more vulnerable to injury during repetitive impact, sudden twisting or falls. When a growth plate is injured, it can sometimes affect how the bone continues to develop, which is why early diagnosis and appropriate treatment matter so much.

Overview

Symptoms

Your child may have a growth plate injury if they experience:

Persistent pain, swelling or tenderness near a joint
Difficulty bearing weight or moving the affected limb
Visible deformity or unusual angling of a bone
Warmth or bruising around the injured area
Pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest

Because these symptoms can resemble a sprain or strain, medical evaluation is important to determine whether a growth plate is involved.

Causes

Growth plate injuries most often occur in children and teens who participate in organized sports or recreational activities. Common causes include:

Repetitive overuse from sports involving repeated throwing, jumping or running, such as baseball, gymnastics, basketball or track
Sudden trauma from falls, tackles or collisions during contact sports
Twisting injuries from quick pivots, stops or changes in direction
Overtraining due to inadequate rest and conditioning

During growth spurts, muscles and tendons may strengthen faster than bones, creating temporary imbalances that place added stress on vulnerable growth plates.

Risk factors

Some young athletes face a higher likelihood of growth plate injuries, particularly those who play sports involving repeated impact, jumping or throwing, or who train intensely without enough rest between activities.

Growth spurts can also temporarily increase risk, since muscles and tendons may outpace bone development. Having one or more of these factors does not mean your child will experience an injury, but it's helpful information for coaches, parents and care teams to keep in mind.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a growth plate injury starts with a conversation about how the injury happened, followed by a careful physical examination to check pain, swelling and range of motion. X-rays help identify fractures or changes in alignment, and MRI or CT imaging may be used when a closer look at cartilage or soft tissue is needed.

We use gentle examination techniques suited to growing bones and explain findings in reassuring, easy-to-understand language so you and your child feel confident about next steps.

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