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Imaging of physeal bars in children

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Abstract

The growth plate, also known as the physis or epiphyseal plate, is essential for longitudinal growth of bones in the immature skeleton. A variety of insults to the growth plate from trauma to infection to idiopathic causes can lead to physeal bar formation, an interruption in normal growth plate cartilage, where a bony or fibrous bridge develops between the metaphysis and epiphysis. This bridge restricts subsequent bone growth, leading to limb shortening and/or angular deformities. Early recognition of the presence of a physeal bar can help direct appropriate surgical management to restore linear growth of the bone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    David C. Wang

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Vincent Deeney & James W. Roach

  3. Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15224, USA

    Amisha J. Shah

Authors
  1. David C. Wang
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  2. Vincent Deeney
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  3. James W. Roach
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  4. Amisha J. Shah
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Correspondence to Amisha J. Shah.

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Wang, D.C., Deeney, V., Roach, J.W. et al. Imaging of physeal bars in children. Pediatr Radiol 45, 1403–1412 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-015-3280-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-015-3280-5

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