REMODELING AFTER DISTAL FOREARM FRACTURES IN CHILDREN .1. EFFECT OF RESIDUAL ANGULATION ON THE SPATIAL ORIENTATION OF THE EPIPHYSEAL PLATES

The effect of residual fracture angulation on the distal radial and ulnar epiphyseal plates was studied in children aged 1-15 yr. Fractures [38] located in the distal 1/5 of the forearm bones were observed for 1-25 mo. after the fractures had healed. The forearms were examined radiographically on 2-5 occasions and the inclinations of the epiphyseal plates in relation to the long axis of the proximal fragments were measured. An abnormal inclination of the epiphyseal plate after healing of a distal forearm fracture induced a growth alteration in the epiphyseal plate. The growth redistribution tended to correct the abnormal inclination. The correction rate followed an exponential course. The age of the child at the time of the fracture and the distance from the fracture to the epiphyseal plate did not influence the capacity for correction.