Salter-Harris Classification

The Salter-Harris Classification is a system used to categorize fractures that involve the growth plate (epiphyseal plate) in children and adolescents. Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage that eventually turn into bone, playing a crucial role in bone growth. The classification consists of five types, ranging from Type I, where the fracture is through the growth plate only, to Type V, where there is compression of the growth plate. Understanding these types helps doctors assess the severity of the injury and predict potential impacts on future bone growth and development.