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 damage is well known, but the cause is obscure. The case reported documents premature closure of the distal tibial physis of an infant after a temporary but significant episode of vascular insufficiency. Direct arterial occlusion or arterial spasm may account for some cases of physeal arrest associated with nonphyseal-related trauma.