Salter-Harris type I fracture

Last revised by Tee Yu Jin on 26 Oct 2022

Salter-Harris type I fractures are relatively uncommon injuries that occur in children. Salter-Harris fractures are injuries where a fracture of the metaphysis or epiphysis extends through the physis. Not all fractures that extend to the growth plate are Salter-Harris fractures.

Radiographic features

Salter-Harris type I fractures describe a fracture that is completely contained within the physis. There is no associated bone fragment.

In reality, the majority of fractures that involve the physis have at least a small fragment of metaphysis associated with them and are therefore type II injuries.

Plain radiograph
  • fracture through the physis
  • no epiphyseal or metaphyseal fracture
  • no fracture fragments
  • angulation, displacement and rotation may occur

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Cases and figures

  • Figure 1: illustration
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  • Case 1
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  • Case 2
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  • Case 3
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  • Case 4
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  • Case 5: slipped capital femoral epiphysis
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  • Case 6
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