Fracture through a Harris growth arrest line: a case report

Abstract

Fractures occur when bone is overloaded and mechanical failure occurs with the fracture propagating along the lines of least resistance. We report the case of a 6-year-old boy who sustained a nondisplaced distal third tibial shaft fracture through a Harris growth arrest line of increased osseous density due to low-energy blunt trauma. This case is used as an opportunity to review the literature on Harris growth arrest lines and discuss a fracture pattern that has not been previously described in the literature.