The subspeciality of Pediatric Orthopedics is distin- common of which is fracture. This textbook is an guished from adult orthopedics in many ways. The overview of fractures of the physis, and is divided into two most prominent differences are the small size of three parts: general considerations, anatomic sites of the patients and the presence of growth plates (phy- fracture, and premature partial physeal arrest, the ses). Physes may be injured in various ways, the most most common and onerous complication. iX preface Textbooks are the medium where knowledge is accu- speaking Mayo orthopedic residents, and some recent mulated, evaluated, and stored, and where, hopefully articles which have English abstracts. I have pers- wisdom grows. Assembling facts, made known by ally read all the English articles and abstracts incl- preceding observers, investigators, and authors, ad- ed in the references. In each, I have tried to find at vances the science. Through their effort and insight, least one bit of new, confirmatory, or contrary inf- we benefit. mation or insight. I have avoided citing a bit of infor- The creation of any medical textbook begins with a mation attributed to one author by another author. labor of love, but rapidly takes on a life of its own. Excluded are abstracts followed by published articles, This text was no exception and has been a “work in identical articles published in multiple publications, progress” over my entire 30-year practice of pediatric and works of obvious plagiarism.