Pediatrics Case 3 Diagnosis

Red=Metaphyseal Fracture; Blue=Epiphyseal Fracture

Salter-Harris type IV fractures are typically diagnosed by plain films. The finding are lucent fracture lines extending through both the metaphysis and epiphysis, an intraarticular fracture. The fracture line through the physis will not be visible because both the cartilaginous growth plate and fracture lines are radiolucent.