Care For Children That Need Removal Of Growth Plates


growth plates in children

Children have growth plates, which are very important for the proper growth of a human being. The growth plates are responsible for the proper growth of the body and they actually do not make it to adulthood without having a certain amount of growth. These growth plates are found at the back of the tibia. It is important that people in this world understand just how important growth plates are and what they actually do.

An Overview

A dog riding on top of a dry grass field

A person will need to know what a growth plate is in order to see just how important they are. A growth plate is a small bone that is located in the bone marrow and it is used to help with the storage of the bone material. It is important to understand that a growth plate is the storage area for your bone as it grows and old bones will be stored here until the person outgrows them.

Children have growth plates in their bodies. This is very common as a child will outgrow both their head and their upper body very quickly. They will generally reach about the age of twenty-five before they have to worry about replacing the growth plates. In many cases the person will find that their plates break as they get older and they will need to replace them. In most cases a doctor will not replace them on their own as they will need to be surgically removed.

Removal Process

A baby wearing a hat

Growth plates in children can be removed by a physician when the child reaches a certain age. In most cases the doctor will encourage the growth plates to be removed as they will limit the person’s growth. Growth plates that are removed in children have a very high chance of breaking as they are under a lot of pressure from the bone. When a growth plate is removed, a person will notice that they will be taller than they were before. The reason for this is that the bones will not be under so much pressure as it would if the growth plates were not present.

A doctor may suggest that growth plates be removed if a person is overweight or if they suffer from osteoporosis. Children that are very obese may benefit from having growth plates as they will grow taller. Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become porous and brittle over time. This can lead to breaks in the bones and can lead to serious injuries. If a child develops osteoporosis, it is often possible to reverse the condition with the right treatment.

Medicate Well

Growth plates in children are also removed if a child has arthritis. Arthritis can be treated successfully with the right medication. If the growth plates are removed due to arthritis then the child may have to wear a splint that helps support their joints. The splint can be removed once the medication has been given to the child.

If growth plates are removed at an early age then they will be replaced with healthier bones that will help the child to develop normally. In some cases it will be necessary to remove the growth plates completely. When this is done it is important to keep the area around them clean and to check on the growth of the new bone. It is also important to keep a watch on the foods that you feed the growth plates. Food items such as sugary foods and salty items can damage the surrounding tissues and cause a great deal of pain.

Conclusion

There are many growth plates available in the marketplace today and many children have benefited from these. However, it is important to watch for the signs of problems. If growth plates seem to be bent or are sticking out they should be checked immediately. If growth plates need to be removed because they are cracking or breaking then it is important to keep a careful watch on the growth of the new bone. Careful attention to the condition of growth plates in children can help them to grow successfully.

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