Is there a growth plate in the ankle?

While most fractured growth plates in the ankle often heal without complications, some injuries necessitate special attention in order to ensure normal growth continues. Ankle growth plate injuries most commonly either occur at the end of the fibula or tibia, two of the three bones that compose the ankle joint.

Where is the growth plate located in the ankle?

Description. Ankle fractures in children and adolescents usually occur in the tibia or fibula and typically involve the growth plates. Growth plates are areas of cartilage, located near the ends of long bones, that harden into sold bone when a child becomes fully grown.

Where is the growth plate in the tibia?

Growth plates are located near the ends of your child’s bones. If a fracture goes through a growth plate, it can result in a shorter or crooked limb.

What happens if a growth plate is damaged?

Growth plates disappear when the skeleton reaches maturity and the bones stop growing. However, bones can stop growing earlier — stunting physical development and causing functional problems — if the growth plates become severely damaged, Dr. Ballock says.

What age do ankle growth plates close?

When kids are done growing, the growth plates harden into solid bone. This happens in girls around ages 13–15 and in boys around ages 15–17.

How do you break a growth plate in your ankle?

Growth plate fractures may occur when an ankle is twisted during play or as the result of a fall. Many happen when children are competing in sports such as soccer, gymnastics or basketball. Some growth plate fractures can be caused by overuse, particularly in the elbow, but that is uncommon at the ankle.

What is the tibial growth plate?

The top and bottom of the tibia bones have a very soft region called the growth plate from which the bone grows. This area is particularly prone to developing a fracture until the growth plate has closed (fused) at 8 to 10 months of age. Cause of fracture.

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

Sometimes, a growth plate fracture can also cause the bone to grow more, but this has the same result: One limb ends up longer than the other. A less common problem is when a ridge develops along the fracture line. This can also interfere with the bone’s growth or cause it to curve.

When do ankle growth plates fuse?

What happens if you break the growth plate in your ankle?

Thus, if left untreated, growth plate damage may lead to abnormal alignment of the ankle joint, or a difference in leg length. The leg length difference is typically mild, since this growth plate typically only grows 2 to 3 mm (0.1 inches) per year.

Can growth plate be mistaken for fracture?

The symptoms of a growth plate injury may be similar to those of a sprain, a pulled muscle, or a broken bone, and so doctors usually recommend an X-ray to get a better sense of the cause of your child’s symptoms.