growth plate fracture age 22

Last summer I was hit by a car on my bike and landed on my head/right shoulder.  My ortho said it wasn't a seperated shoulder even though my clavicle was popping up majorly.  Anyway, it healed over the summer and only bothered me because the bone pops up.  Then, about a week ago, i reinjured it after getting kicked in the chest.  At first I thought I cracked a rib, but then that pain went away and my shoulder blade feels misplaced and my injured shoulder cracks and feels loose and lower than before.  Is this a growth plate fracture?  I'm a 22 year old female and I've read that they ossify at this age.  I don't know, but what would be a surgery to fix this?  My shoulder does not at all feel right and I can't live with it.  I am a writing applying to go to school for creative writing, and my right arm is my writing arm.  I haven't been able to write with my shoulder because my shoulder blade hurts and my shoulder just doesn't feel right. Please help.  I'm going to get x-rays next week, but I want to just know if there is any way i can get my shoulder feeling like it used to.  I want to run without feeling it move.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without an evaluation, it would be difficult to comment on the type of injury that you might have sustained. Possibilities include fractures, dislocations, soft tissue injuries etc. Growth plate fracture is a specific type of fracture that involves usually the ends of bones before they ossify and close; and all injuries need not involve the growth plate. Growth place fusion is a gradual process, different for all bones; that continues prior to ones birth till ones 20’s and most growth plates are already fused by the age of 22 years. At this stage it would be best to get yourself evaluated by an orthopedician for to rule out possible injuries and for appropriate management.
Hope this is useful.

Take care!