Remodeling of the calcaneus apophysis in the growing child.

ABSTRACT

Radiography and computer-aided analysis of tomography of the os calcis in 35 children with Sever's disease and of 52 control children were concurrently evaluated with histologic appearance of six calcanei of victims of road accidents, which were radiographically compatible with the same syndrome. Histology showed abrupt interruption in continuity of the apophysis of perpendicular fibrous plates with evidence of an ongoing reparative process. Computer-aided analysis of orientation of the "fragmentation" lines and histologic data both support the hypothesis of a stress remodeling process owing to excessive bending forces acting on the calcaneal apophysis.