Question

While playing on her swing set, 10-year-old Sally falls and breaks her right leg. At the emergency room, the doctor tells her parents that the proximal end of the tibia where the epiphysis meets the diaphysis is fractured. The fracture is properly set and eventually heals. During a routine physical when she is 18, Sally learns that her right leg is 2 cm shorter than her left, probably because of her accident. What might account for this difference?

Answer 1

The fracture might have damaged the epiphyseal cartilage in Sally’s right leg. Even though the bone healed properly, the damaged leg did not produce as much cartilage as did the undamaged leg. The result would be a shorter bone on the side of the injury.