At what ages is the growth plate of the proximal femur particularly vulnerable?

• A. Typically ages 12-14.
• B. 0-2 years
• C. 18-20 years
• D. 8-10 years

Answer: (A)

The growth plate of the proximal femur is most vulnerable during periods of rapid growth, such as puberty, when the growth velocity is high and the physis is open but relatively weakened. This mid-teen window—around 12 to 14 years—coincides with peak growth spurts and the typical onset of conditions like slipped capital femoral epiphysis, which arise because the open growth plate is susceptible to shear forces under weight-bearing stress. As age advances beyond the mid-teens, the growth plate begins to close and the risk diminishes; in early infancy the physis is still developing but injuries there follow different patterns, and by ages 18–20 the proximal femoral plate is largely fused, making vulnerability much lower.