PREMATURE PHYSEAL ARREST OF THE DISTAL TIBIA ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPORARY ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCY

Premature physeal arrest may occur after various insults to the physis . Its association with diaphyseal fracture without obvious physeal dam age is well known, but the cause is obscure. The case reported documen ts premature closure of the distal tibial physis of an infant after a temporary but significant episode of vascular insufficiency. Direct ar terial occlusion or arterial spasm may account for some cases of physe al arrest associated with nonphyseal-related trauma.