A 10-year-old child sustains an ankle injury. Radiograph shows a fracture line running vertically through the epiphysis of the distal tibia, entering the joint surface, then crossing the physis and exiting through a wedge of metaphyseal bone. According to the Salter-Harris classification, this is:
- A Type I
- B Type II
- C Type IV ✓
- D Type III
Correct answer: C. Type IV
Explanation
A fracture traversing the epiphysis, crossing the growth plate, and extending into the metaphysis is a Salter-Harris type IV injury. It carries a high risk of growth arrest because it involves both the articular surface and the germinal layer of the physis. Type III passes through the epiphysis and plate but does not involve the metaphysis, which is the feature that excludes option D here.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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