Computed tomography of partial growth plate arrest: initial experience.

Twelve growth plates in 11 patients with clinical evidence of partial growth plate tethering underwent thin slice (1.5 mm) axial high resolution computed tomography (CT), or direct coronal CT. The normal epiphyseal plate was readily visualised as a low density layer of soft tissue density between adjacent sclerotic margins of epiphysis and metaphysis. Two growth plates had greater than 50% obliteration and ten had partial obliteration. Our preliminary results show excellent correlation between the CT findings and surgical pathology. We expect that CT will replace polytomography in the operative evaluation of partial growth plate arrest, as it has in our institution.