Salter-Harris fracture classification (mnemonic)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohammadmain Rezazadehsaatlou[2].
Overview
Injuries leading to the bone fracture affecting the epiphyseal plate, or physis, are important and common in orthopedic medicine and the cause diagnostic and treatment challenges for orthopaedic surgeons. The related incidence rate of these fracture among pedicatric population is 15-20%.
Salter-Harris fracture classification
According to the Salter-Harris classification there are two important mnemonics helping memories this classification and use it easily in practice:
- SALTR
- SMACK
| SALTR Mnemonic | ||
|---|---|---|
| S | slipped | Type I |
| A | above or away from joint | Type II |
| L | lower | Type III |
| T | through or transverse or together | Type IV |
| R | ruined or rammed | Type V |
| SMACK Mnemonic | ||
|---|---|---|
| S | slipped | Type I |
| M | metaphyseal | Type II |
| A | articular-epiphyseal | Type III |
| C | complete-metaphysis and epiphysis | Type IV |
| K | krushed | Type V |
See also