A child fell over and injured his growth plate… Are you worried that he might not grow taller?

As the cool breeze begins to blow, we can feel that autumn has arrived. As autumn is a season with many outdoor activities, the risk of sudden accidents also increases.

In particular, children should not be taken lightly because even small bruises can shock their joints and even injure their growth plates. What should you do when your child gets hurt?

‘Periodic follow-up observation’ in case of growth plate damage = The most common growth plate injury is a growth plate fracture. A growth plate fracture does not necessarily cause aftereffects, and if it is not severe, it may not require any special treatment.

However, 5-10% can lead to permanent growth disorders. When the growth plate is damaged, hard bone tissue called ‘osteobridge’ hinders growth. As a result, the bone cannot grow straight and becomes bent. The degree of bending and shortening increases over time. At this time, osteobridge resection surgery, which removes the osteobridge and transplants cartilage cells or fat, can be considered.

Professor Min Jae-jeong of the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics at Daejeon Eulji University Hospital advised, “If there is a difference of more than 2 cm in the leg bones after growth is complete, surgery to adjust the length may be necessary.” He also said, “If the growth plate is damaged, it is recommended to visit the hospital periodically for follow-up observation.”

When your arm breaks, ‘go to the emergency room quickly’ = Arm dislocation accidents are common in children under 3 years of age. In particular, children have difficulty describing their symptoms in words, so it is sometimes discovered late. If the child’s shoulder is lowered on one side and the child cannot raise the arm or shows pain, it can be suspected.

In this case, you should quickly go to the nearest emergency room and have the dislocated joint realigned. After realignment, the movement of raising the arm becomes painless and natural.

When you sprain your ankle, ‘4 weeks of ankle immobilization’ = If a child suffers an ankle sprain, they usually get a cast or wear an ankle brace. The problem is ‘continuity’. After a few days of injury, they are able to walk around, and it is cumbersome to keep wearing it, so they often just leave it off.

However, the ankle must be immobilized for at least 4 weeks. Professor Min explained, “The ankle must be properly immobilized so that the ligament does not stretch and can heal normally.” He added, “If the ligament heals while being stretched, it can easily lead to chronic recurrent sprains that can easily cause a sprain and fall.”