Radiographic appearances following surgical correction of the partially fused epiphyseal plate.

Surgical correction of partial post-traumatic fusion of an epiphyseal plate by resection of the bony bridge across the plate and replacement of the bridge by a fat implant causes a characteristic radiographic appearance which is illustrated by two patients and an animal model. Failure to recognize this characteristic postoperative pattern may lead to a misdiagnosis of infection or other bone pathology.