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This book documents all the ways a growth plate can be damaged, other than fracture. This damage can be inflicted by a wide variety of insults, most of which are uncommon occurrences. They all, however, have two similar characteristics: normal roentgenographs at the time of insult and premature complete or partial arrest noted weeks, months, or years later. Because of this delay, the arrest is often not suspected or recognised early. The resulting bone deformity and relative shortening usually go undetected until corrective surgery is needed. This book emphasises etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of these injuries.

This comprehensive reference work covers all aspects of growth plate fractures and their complications. Following general reviews of growth plate fractures, 21 chapters deal with each epiphyseal growth plate in the body. All of these chapters are constructed similarly for easy and quick retrieval of the required information. The main emphasis is on evaluation (diagnosis) and management (treatment). A separate section is devoted to premature partial physeal arrest, as this is by far the most common and feared complication of a growth plate fracture and its treatment is involved and controversial. The case studies included are often based on 20- to 30-year follow-ups, revealing cases that originally appeared to be quite satisfactory at the conclusion of growth but were found to have turned out quite poorly years later. This unique text is an essential and excellent resource for any pediatric orthopedic surgeon as well as all personnel in the emergency room.