Fast Facts on Growth Plate Injuries and Scoliosis

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

A new series of “easy-to-read” fact sheets, launched by NIAMS, covers a number of diseases and conditions that affect the bones and connective tissue. Among these are growth plate injuries, which happen to children and young people, and affect the areas of growing tissue near the end of the bones. These injuries most often occur at the wrist, in the legs, or at the hip. Another fact sheet covers scoliosis, a disorder in which there is a sideways curve of the backbone.

Known as the “Fast Facts” series, these fact sheets use everyday language to describe a wide variety of problems affecting bone, muscle, joints, and skin. They include basic information about each condition, and information on how to minimize symptoms, what treatment options are available, and details about current NIAMS research on each subject.

Next Steps
You can view these fact sheets online and they are available in pdf format for easy printing. The growth plate injury information is found at http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/growth_plate/ffgrowth.htm. You can read the fact sheet on scoliosis by visiting http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/scoliosis/ffscoliosis.htm.