Growth plate breakage

[tennisfanatic6060]

Hey guys. I'm a 15-year-old competitive tennis player who just broke the growth plate in my right ankle and left wrist due to a hard fall. I'm a left-handed tennis player, and I have my biggest tournament of the year on October 17th and 18th. I am currently wearing braces on both areas, and my doctor said there is an 80% chance I can play the tourney. I could only play if there was no swelling on either area. Has anybody else encountered a growth plate breakage to the wrist or ankle and if so I'd love your insight towards my recovery time and health by the tournament date. All comments/advice welcome. Thanks.

 

[Rickson]

At 15, you're almost done growing anyway so there won't be a significant difference in your forearm length. Just focus on healing and don't worry about your growth plates. Sit out the tourney and focus on getting better.

 

[phucng_10]

At 15, you're almost done growing anyway so there won't be a significant difference in your forearm length. Just focus on healing and don't worry about your growth plates. Sit out the tourney and focus on getting better.

I'd second this. Even if it's a huge tournament, I'd really sit out and let those area heal before I play again. I mean, you just broke a bone and you're wanting to play in a week? That's just crazy.

 

[princemidplus]

it is debatable whether you are almost finished growing (and depends on whether you are a girl or guy). However the advice remains the same - sit out the tournament. Not worth messing with growth plates before they close at the end of your physical growing. if you damage these further they can become a weak point. As long as they are set properly then you should not have an altered growth pattern (different lengths of bones or curved bones)

 

[Rickson]

Most boys are done between 14-18 so he doesn't have much left in him. Sure, there are late bloomers, but I've hardly seen any guy grow after 16. My buddy was a late bloomer and he went from 5'7 to 6'1 between his freshman and junior year, but that means he stopped growing altogether at 16. At 15 he's either almost done or he's done already.

 

[princemidplus]

here is a link to epiphyseal (growth plate) fractures.

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/chapter_34/34mast.htm#b

Obviously the earlier they occur in age the worse the prognosis can potentially be.

I agree that most boys are done growing by age 18 and a large amount sooner than that. I am 6'2" and stopped at about 17 years. So 15 years depending on height already and previous growth spurts may be finished growing in a boy but may also be about 2/3 of the way through. Everyone is an individual and I cannot tell. An x-ray would show if the growth plates have closed or not.

 

[lawlitssoo1n]

At 15, you're almost done growing anyway so there won't be a significant difference in your forearm length. Just focus on healing and don't worry about your growth plates. Sit out the tourney and focus on getting better.

LOL, 15 and almost done growing? not really an avg male stops growing at the age of 21. and dats 6 years right there. im 6'2" and just turned 17, i'd have to say i grew about 3-4 inches in 3 years. but then again my parents are tall so...

ANYWAY, i would stay out, even though its a big tournament, better safe than sorry

 

[Phil]

Hey guys. I'm a 15-year-old competitive tennis player who just broke the growth plate in my right ankle and left wrist due to a hard fall. I'm a left-handed tennis player, and I have my biggest tournament of the year on October 17th and 18th. I am currently wearing braces on both areas, and my doctor said there is an 80% chance I can play the tourney. I could only play if there was no swelling on either area. Has anybody else encountered a growth plate breakage to the wrist or ankle and if so I'd love your insight towards my recovery time and health by the tournament date. All comments/advice welcome. Thanks.

I broke the growth plate in my right ankle at age 13. I wore a cast for six weeks and recovery time after cast removal was about ten days or so.

You should skip the tournament. It may be the biggest of the year, but that's not big enough, IMO, to risk damaging your joints for the rest of your life or else prolonging the recovery period.

 

[Rickson]

I'm sure there are a lot of 21 year olds growing like crazy. Get your facts straight.

 

[phucng_10]

I'm sure there are a lot of 21 year olds growing like crazy. Get your facts straight.

I'd say that's true. Probably in small increments, but they do still grow as the years goes by.

 

[albino smurf]

I didn't stop growing unil I was 25. I wouldn't mess around. Especially with bones in joints.

 

[El Pelele]

I didn't stop growing unil I was 25. I wouldn't mess around. Especially with bones in joints.

so how tall are you? 8 feet? jk

 

[Andres]

At 15, you're almost done growing anyway so there won't be a significant difference in your forearm length. Just focus on healing and don't worry about your growth plates. Sit out the tourney and focus on getting better.

I was 182 cm when I was 15. Now at 24, I'm 192 cm. That's 4 inches. And I'm not the only one. I was 188 when I was graduated from high school, and I grew an extra 4 cm till I was 21.

Stopped growing completely when turned 21.

 

[Chauvalito]

I would advise you to listen to your doctor. He will know whether or not your bones will grow any more as he will have access to your x-rays.

For anyone to suggest to you when you might or might not stop growing without access to your medical records/x-rays is a bit much. The clarity of the growth plate is seen quite well on x-rays and your doctor should be able to tell you roughly whether you are still growing or not.



With that said, I do concur with others who suggested that you take the time to let your injuries heal. If you have to miss a tournament, so be it, that would be better than creating more injuries or making the ones you already have worse.

 

[Rickson]

I didn't stop growing until I was 29.