science

Salter–Harris fracture

Salter–Harris fracture is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Salter–Harris fracture rather than just read about it. In short: A Salter–Harris fracture is a fracture that involves the epiphyseal plate (growth plate) of a bone, specifically the zone of provisional calcification. It is thus a form of child bone fracture.

Key takeaways

Salter–Harris fracture belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Salter–Harris fracture to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Salter–Harris fracture from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

A Salter–Harris fracture is a fracture that involves the epiphyseal plate (growth plate) of a bone, specifically the zone of provisional calcification. It is thus a form of child bone fracture. It is a common injury found in children, occurring in 15% of childhood long bone fractures. This type of fracture and its classification system is named for Robert B. Salter and William H. Harris who created and published this classification system in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery in 1963.

Types

There are nine types of Salter–Harris fractures; types I to V as described by Robert B. Salter and William H. Harris in 1963, and the rarer types VI to IX which have been added subsequently:

Type I – transverse fracture through the growth plate (also referred to as the "physis"): 6% incidence Type II – A fracture through the growth plate and the metaphysis, sparing the epiphysis: 75% incidence, takes approximately 12-90 weeks or more in the spine to heal. Type III – A fracture through growth plate and epiphysis, sparing the metaphysis: 8% incidence Type IV – A fracture through all three elements of the bone, the growth plate, metaphysis, and epiphysis: 10% incidence Type V – A compression fracture of the growth plate (resulting in a decrease in the perceived space between the epiphysis and metaphysis on x-ray): 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) Type VII – Isolated injury of the epiphyseal plate (VII–IX added in 1982 by JA Ogden) Type VIII – Isolated injury of the metaphysis with possible impairment of endochondral ossification Type IX – Injury of the periosteum which may impair intramembranous ossification

SALTER mnemonic for classification The mnemonic "SALTER" can be used to help remember the first five types. N.B.: This mnemonic requires the reader to imagine the bones as long bones, with the epiphyses at the base.

I – S = Slip (separated or straight across). Fracture of the cartilage of the physis (growth plate) II – A = Above. The fracture lies above the physis, or Away from the joint. III – L = Lower. The fracture is below the physis in the epiphysis. IV – TE = Through Everything. The fracture is through the metaphysis, physis, and epiphysis. V – R = Rammed (crushed). The physis has been crushed. Alternatively, SALTER can be used for the first 6 types, as above but adding Type V — 'E' for 'Everything' or 'Epiphysis' and Type VI — 'R' for 'Ring'.

Prognosis Fractures in children generally heal relatively fast but may take several weeks to heal. Most growth plate fractures heal without any lasting effects. Rarely, bridging bone may form across the fracture, causing stunted growth and/or curving. In such cases, the bridging bone may need to be surgically removed. A growth plate fracture may also stimulate growth, causing a longer bone than the corresponding bone on the other side. Therefore, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends regular follow-up for at least a year after a growth plate fracture.

Additional images

See also Paul Jules Tillaux Thurstan Holland sign

References

External links

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Salter–Harris fracture

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Salter–Harris fracture claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Salter–Harris fracture before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Salter–Harris fracture ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Salter–Harris fracture

In research: Salter–Harris fracture appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Salter–Harris fracture in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Salter–Harris fracture is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Bone fractures, Orthopedic classifications, Pediatrics, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Salter–Harris fracture outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Salter–Harris fracture in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Salter–Harris fracture means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Salter–Harris fracture out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Salter–Harris fracture in simple terms?

A Salter–Harris fracture is a fracture that involves the epiphyseal plate (growth plate) of a bone, specifically the zone of provisional calcification. It is thus a form of child bone fracture.

Why does Salter–Harris fracture matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Salter–Harris fracture?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Salter–Harris fracture.