Salter-Harris fractures

Salter-Harris Fractures: Descriptive terms for fractures affecting the growth plate of a bone. Once bone growth has completed, the term "Salter-Harris Fracture" no longer applies.

Types

Salter Harris Fracture Types

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

• Type II - A fracture through the growth plate and the metaphysis, sparing the epiphysis:^[3] 75% incidence

• Type III - A fracture through growth plate and epiphysis, sparing the metaphysis:^[4] 8% incidence

• Type IV - A fracture through all three elements of the bone, the growth plate, metaphysis, and epiphysis:^[5] 10% incidence

• 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 may produce an angular deformity. (Added in 1969 by Mercer Rang.)

SALTER mnemonic for classification

The mnemonic "SALTER" can be used to help remember the first five types^[7][8][9]. This mnemonic requires the reader to imagine the bones as long bones, with the epiphyses at the base.

• I - S = Same. Fracture of the cartilage of the physis (growth plate)
• II - A = Above. The fracture lies above the physis.
• III - L = Lower. The fracture is below the physis in the epiphysis.
• IV - T = Through. The fracture is through the metaphysis, physis, and epiphysis.
• V - ER = Erased (crushed). The physis has been crushed.

Salter-Harris fracture images

Salter Harris fracture radiographs with insets showing fracture lines.

Salter-Harris I fracture of distal radius.   Salter-Harris II fracture of ring finger proximal phalanx.   Salter-Harris III fracture of big toe proximal phalanx.   Salter-Harris IV fracture of big toe proximal phalanx.

See also

• Paul Jules Tillaux

References

1. ^ 00358 at CHORUS
2. ^ S.H. Type I - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
3. ^ S.H. Type II - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
4. ^ Salter Harris Type III Frx - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
5. ^ Salter Harris: Type IV - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
6. ^ Type V - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
7. ^ Davis, Ryan. "Blueprints Radiology". http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=coLSTFjlGqcC&oi=fnd&pg=PA12&dq=salter+harris+classification+SALTR&ots=WVQ-ieWDQQ&sig=qd2c4R78GMvcGqvLTa__G1oitQA#PPA83,M1. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
8. ^ Gaillard, Frank. "Radiopedia". http://www.radiopaedia.org/index.php?title=SALTR. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
9. ^ Tidey, Brian. "Salter-Harris Fractures". http://members.fortunecity.com/radrep/id36.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 

External links

• "Growth Plate (Physeal) Fractures" at emedicine.com
• http://medicine.ucsd.edu/bonepit/Classifications/Salter%20Harris%20and%20Ogden%20classification%20of%20physeal%20fractures.htm<this link is dead

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