Growth Plate Fractures and Injuries (cont.)
What Are Researchers Trying To Learn About Growth Plate Injuries?
Researchers continue to develop methods to optimize the diagnosis and
treatment of growth plate injuries and to improve patient outcomes. Examples of
such work include:
- Removal of a growth-blocking "bridge" or bar of bone that can form across a
growth plate following a fracture. After the bridge is removed, fat, cartilage,
or other materials are inserted in its place to prevent the bridge from forming
again.
- The investigation of drugs that protect the growth plate during radiation
treatment.
- Development of methods to regenerate musculoskeletal tissue by using
principles of tissue engineering.
To improve the early diagnosis of growth plate
injuries, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculosketetal and Skin
Diseases (NIAMS) is supporting a study to evaluate the use of MRI to visualize
young bones and enable prompt, appropriate treatment. In May 1997, the NIAMS,
together with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the
Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, supported a conference on
skeletal growth and development. The resulting publication, Skeletal Growth and
Development: Clinical Issues and Basic Science Advances, can be obtained from
the AAOS at the address listed near the end of this booklet. In March 2000, the NIAMS supported the First International Conference on Growth Plate.
The NIAMS is working with the NICHD, the National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases to support a research initiative in the area of skeletal growth
and development. The purpose of the initiative is to:
- Stimulate research to identify and understand the action of the genes that
regulate skeletal development
- Evaluate factors that affect growth plate function
- Develop animal models to study disturbances in skeletal growth and development
- Find new ways to correct musculoskeletal deformities.
Next: Where Can People Find More Information About Growth Plate Injuries? »
- CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
- Fracture - Read about fracture of bone(s). The most common fractures are stress fractures, rib fractures, skull fractures, and fractures in children. Causes vary and treatment is dependant upon the type of fracture.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan) - Medical information on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in detecting structural abnormalities of the body. Learn uses, risks, and how to prepare for an MRI scan
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