Understanding Growth Plates: What They Are and Why They're Vulnerable

Explore the vital cartilage areas in children's bones responsible for growth and why they are uniquely susceptible to injury.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Aug 18, 2026

Branched from Osgood-Schlatter Disease and Other Apophyseal Injuries in Growing Young Athletes

Quick take

Growth plates are cartilage areas at the ends of long bones in children.
They are responsible for bone lengthening and overall skeletal growth.
Growth plates are weaker than surrounding bone or ligaments, making them vulnerable to injury.
Damage to a growth plate can disrupt a child's normal bone growth.

Growth plates, also known as epiphyseal plates, are areas of developing cartilage located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. Their primary role is to produce new bone tissue, allowing bones to lengthen and grow during childhood and puberty.

How Growth Plates Work

A growth plate is essentially a disc of cartilage made up of specialized cells called chondrocytes. These cells are constantly dividing, multiplying, and enlarging, pushing the ends of the bone further apart. As new cartilage is formed on one side of the plate, the older cartilage cells on the other side harden and are gradually replaced by new bone tissue. This continuous process is what drives the increase in bone length. Each long bone has at least two growth plates, one at each end, allowing for symmetrical growth.

Once a child reaches skeletal maturity, typically in late adolescence, the cartilage in the growth plate completely ossifies (turns into bone). At this point, the growth plate "closes" and disappears, becoming a solid line of bone, and no further lengthening of that bone can occur.

Why Growth Plates Are Vulnerable

The cartilage of a growth plate is inherently softer and weaker than the surrounding mature bone, ligaments, and tendons. This structural difference means that when a significant force or stress is applied to a limb, the growth plate is often the weakest link in the chain. Instead of a ligament tearing or a bone fracturing in its shaft, the growth plate itself is more likely to be damaged. This vulnerability is especially pronounced during periods of rapid growth, known as growth spurts, when the plates are particularly active and perhaps even more fragile.

An injury to a growth plate, if severe or improperly treated, can disrupt the normal growth process. Damage might lead to the bone growing crooked, shorter than its counterpart, or stopping growth altogether, depending on the severity and location of the injury. This is why these injuries are often treated with extra care and monitored closely by doctors.

Are growth plates only found in long bones?

While most commonly discussed in the context of long bones like those in the arms and legs, growth plates (or similar cartilage structures) are also present in other bones, such as those in the spine, hands, and feet, contributing to their development.

How do doctors diagnose a growth plate injury?

Diagnosis typically involves a physical examination and imaging tests, most commonly X-rays. Because growth plates are made of cartilage (which doesn't show up on standard X-rays), doctors look for subtle changes in the bone's alignment or widening of the growth plate space, sometimes comparing it to the uninjured limb. MRI scans may be used for more detailed assessment.

Can adults injure their growth plates?

No, adults cannot injure their growth plates because their growth plates have already closed and fused into solid bone. Growth plate injuries are exclusive to children and adolescents whose skeletons are still maturing.

What is the typical recovery time for a growth plate injury?

Recovery time varies widely depending on the type, severity, and location of the injury, as well as the child's age. Minor injuries might heal in a few weeks with immobilization, while more complex fractures could require surgery and several months of recovery and rehabilitation, often with long-term monitoring.

Sources

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) – OrthoInfo
Mayo Clinic – Growth plate fractures