In children, human growth hormone therapy has been used for decades to treat growth hormone deficiency due to underlying medical conditions such as Turner syndrome, very small weight at birth, Prader-Willi syndrome and chronic renal insufficiency. "While kids are still growing, the tibia growth plate is structurally weaker than the patellar tendon. When a child or adolescent lands awkwardly or forcefully contracts their quadriceps muscle, instead of the patellar tendon rupturing, it pulls off a piece of bone from the growth plate because the growth plate is weaker." Given the volume of patients we treat, we were able to investigate the relationship between tibia growth plate fractures and growth hormone therapy in pediatric patients." "Tibia growth plate fractures are rare but serious injuries.

Source: Washington Post January 04, 2024 15:03 UTC