When my son broke his arm, his doctor said he was lucky he didn't injure his growth plate. What is a growth plate?Dear Dr. Cory: When my son broke his arm, the doctor said he was lucky he didn't injure To interfere with the legally protected interest of another or to inflict harm on someone, for which an action may be brought. To damage or impair. The term injure is comprehensive and can apply to an injury to a person or property. Cross-references Tort Law. his growth plate. What is a growth plate? Jody Schmidt Trenton, New Jersey Dear Ms. Schmidt: Growth plates are made of soft, dishlike connective connective - An operator used in logic to combine two logical formulas. See first order logic. tissue and allow bones to grow. They are located near the ends of bones and near joints. As a bone matures, calcium salts are deposited in the lower part of the growth plate, which causes the bone to harden. As this happens, new growth plates continue to form and allow the bone to grow. When a child has reached his or her adult height, all the growth plates are hardened and closed. While the growth plates are still open and functioning, they are usually more vulnerable to injury than the ligaments that surround the nearest joint. Therefore, never assume that a child's injury is a sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. (injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. ligament ligament (lĭg`əmənt), strong band of white fibrous connective tissue that joins bones to other bones or to cartilage in the joint areas. The bundles of collagenous fibers that form ligaments tend to be pliable but not elastic. ). Any injury to or around a joint in a growing child should be checked and X-rayed whenever pain, limping, or loss of motion occurs. Sincerely, Cory SerVaas, M.D. |
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