Post-Traumatic Femoral Epiphysiodesis in Children
The growth cartilage is a complex zone, found at the Epiphysometaphyseal junction, in the secondary ossification centers and in the growing apophysis. It allows the growth in length of long bones. During a trauma, if an abnormal solution of continuity exists in the growth cartilage, a definitive communication is formed between the metaphyseal bone and the epiphyseal bone which constitutes an epiphysiodesis bridge thus hindering growth. Post-traumatic epiphysiodesis must absolutely be detected and feared, especially since the residual growth potential is great. When the bridge is central, the consequence is the cessation of growth. When the bridge is lateral, the consequence is a misalignment of the type of varus, valgus, flessum. It is the consequence of an incomplete epiphysiodesis. MRI is the ideal examination in the exploration of the growth cartilage, it is important in locating the bridges of epiphysiodesis, and their nature and knowing the functional quality of the remaining growth cartilage.