Your child will need to increase his calcium intake to 3,000 milligrams daily. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent of an 8-year-old child who has a fracture of the epiphyseal plate. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A rationale While it’s true that bone marrow can be lost through a fracture, this is not specific to fractures of the epiphyseal plate. Choice B rationale The healing time for fractures in children and adults can vary depending on many factors, but it’s not accurate to say that fractures in children take longer to heal than fractures in adults. Choice C rationale Normal bone growth can indeed be affected by a fracture of the epiphyseal plate. The epiphyseal plate, or growth plate, is the area of growing tissue near the ends of the long bones in children and adolescents. When a fracture occurs at the epiphyseal plate, it can disrupt the normal growth of the bone and lead to deformities. Choice D rationale While calcium is important for bone health, increasing a child’s calcium intake to 3,000 milligrams daily is not typically recommended as part of the treatment or management of a fracture.