Two-stage treatment of a growth arrest of the distal radius--a case report.

Copyright © Taylor & Francis 2004. ISSN 0001–6470. Printed in Sweden – all rights reserved. DOI 10.1080/00016470410004193 In 1996, a 9-year-old boy presented with the typical appearance of a peripheral growth arrest of the right distal radius. The hand was radially deviated with a prominent end of the ulna (Figures 1 C and E) (Nelson et al. 1984). The boy had been operated on 2 years previously with repeated attempts at reduction of a distal radial epiphyseal fracture and the use of K-wires across the physis (Horii et al. 1993). Radiographs and CT showed a partial distal radial physeal closure located dorsally and radially, with a marked ulnar overgrowth and a radial tilt of the radius (Figures 1 A, B and D). We planned with clinical and radiographical examinations every year during the intervening period. The first stage consisted of an immediate epiphyseal bar resection (Figure 2A) to allow the radius to straighten and regain as much length