Type V physeal injury: a case report.

A case report is presented to support the recently challenged Salter-Harris classification of type V physeal injury. Asymmetric premature closure of a proximal tibial physis, previously not suspected as injured, supports the classification of this injury as a separate entity. Furthermore, varus or valgus forces, as well as shearing forces, probably play an important role in the etiology of this injury rather than longitudinal compression alone.