Salter-Harris fractures
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prashanth Saddala M.B.B.S
Overview
Salter-Harris fractures are descriptive terms for fractures affecting the growth plate of a bone. Once bone growth has completed, the term "Salter-Harris Fracture" no longer applies.
Classification
There are six types of Salter-Harris fractures:[1]
- Type I - A transverse fracture through the growth plate (also referred to as the "physis")[2] : 6% incidence
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Salter-Harris fracture-I Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-I Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
- Type II - A fracture through the growth plate and the metaphysis, sparing the epiphysis:[3] 75% incidence
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Salter-Harris fracture-II Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-II Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-II Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
- Type III - A fracture through growth plate and epiphysis, sparing the metaphysis:[4] 8% incidence
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-III Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
- Type IV - A fracture through all three elements of the bone, the growth plate, metaphysis, and epiphysis:[5] 10% incidence
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Salter-Harris fracture-IV Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-IV Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
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Salter-Harris fracture-IV Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted
- Type V - A compression fracture of the growth plate (resulting in a decrease in the perceived space between the epiphysis and diaphysis on x-ray):[6] 1% incidence
- Type VI - Injury to the peripheral portion of the physis and a resultant bony bridge formation which my produce an angular deformity. (Added in 1969 by Mercer Rang.)
Related Chapter
- Paul Jules Tillaux