Physeal Stress Injuries in the Pediatric Athlete

Physeal injury is a unique injury to the pediatric population with growth threatened if not managed correctly. Physeal stress injuries are thought to develop when repetitive loading of the extremity disrupts metaphysile perfusion in the hypertrophic zone, which in turn inhibits ossification of the conjurocytes. The reserve and proliferative zones remain attached to the epiphyseus with preserved circulation.