[Epiphyseal closure correction in children. Apropos of 18 cases].

The authors have performed 18 operative procedures to remove bony bridges across the growth plate in children. The causes of the formation of the bone bridge were many, including 10 after injury and 3 after infection. There were 9 good results and 9 failures. The causes of the failures were the extent of the bone bridge, sepsis as the causative lesion and technical errors during operation. The best results were obtained in cases where the bridge was peripheral, was easily approached and followed injury in young children. Extensive bridges located centrally had a poor prognosis. All the post-infective cases were failures.