Growth plate injuries: Salter-Harris classification.

Fracture of the growth plate is an injury unique to childhood. Most such fractures heal without permanent deformity. A small percentage, however, are complicated by growth arrest and subsequent deformity. The Salter-Harris classification of growth plate injuries aids in estimating both the prognosis and the potential for growth disturbance. The Salter-Harris system classifies growth plate fractures into five groups: type I, fracture through the growth plate; type II, fracture through the growth plate and metaphysis; type III, fracture through the growth plate and epiphysis; type IV, fracture through the growth plate, epiphysis and metaphysis, and type V, crush or compression injury of the growth plate.