[Radiological study of epiphyseal abnormalities in osteogenesis imperfecta. Apropos of 61 cases].

Sixty-one cases of osteogenesis imperfecta were studied to try to discover the cause of metaphyseal and epiphyseal deformities. These deformities were noticeable in 8 cases out of 61 at the level of the upper and lower end of the femur in all cases and sometimes at the level of the lower end of the tibia and the upper end of the humerus. Several grades are described: First grade - protrusion of the growth plate into the epiphysis. Second grade - disorganization of the architecture of the epiphysis. Third grade - major deformity. It seems that the deformities are secondary to lesions of the growth plates. Several hypotheses are suggested. The authors consider that the main role is played by segmental fractures creating areas of ischemia in the epiphyses.