Rapid growth produces transient cortical weakness: A risk factor for metaphyseal fractures during puberty

Fractures of the distal radius in children have a similar incidence to that found in postmenopausal women but occur more commonly in boys than in girls. Fractures of the distal tibia are uncommon in children and show no sex specificity. About 90% of lengthening of the radius but only 30% of lengthening of the tibia during puberty occur at the distal growth plate. We speculated that more rapid modeling at the distal radial metaphysis results in a...