Aitken Classification

Name: Aitken Classification calculator — MedScore
Creator: Nabil Alzein

Paediatric growth plate (physeal) fracture pattern, with its Salter–Harris equivalent

Aitken type

Tap the one that applies — its meaning opens right below.

0 — physeal separation without fracture (= Salter–Harris I)

I — physeal separation with a metaphyseal fragment (= Salter–Harris II)

II — physeal separation with an epiphyseal fracture, intra-articular (= Salter–Harris III)

III — fracture through epiphysis and metaphysis, intra-articular (= Salter–Harris IV)

IV — axial compression of the physis (= Salter–Harris V)

About this score

When to use

Classifies growth plate fractures in children; Aitken types 0–IV correspond to Salter–Harris types I–V. ⁦[1, 2]⁩

Pearls and pitfalls

• Type 0 is used inconsistently — some authors include a pure physeal separation in Aitken I — so the Salter–Harris type is shown with every result. ⁦[3]⁩

• It grew out of Aitken's clinical series of fractures through the growth plate, including fractures of the distal femoral epiphysis. ⁦[1]⁩

Summarised from the numbered sources under Evidence. Check the source before relying on a statement.

Evidence

[1] Original publication

Aitken AP, Magill HK. Fractures involving the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage. One of Aitken’s clinical series on fractures through the growth plate in children, the work behind the classification that carries his name.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American, 1952

Open source

[2] Validation

Salter RB, Harris WR. Injuries involving the epiphyseal plate. The five-type classification each Aitken type corresponds to (Aitken 0–IV = Salter–Harris I–V); the risk of a growth disturbance shown here follows that correspondence.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American, 1963

[3] Note on this tool

Aitken type 0 is used inconsistently — some authors include a pure physeal separation in Aitken I — so the Salter–Harris type is given with every result.

Last reviewed: 2026-10

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MedScore is an educational and clinical decision-support tool. It does not provide a diagnosis, a treatment, or a drug-dosing recommendation, and it does not replace clinical judgement or local guidelines. Confirm every result against the original source before acting on it. The treating clinician remains responsible for all decisions.