NON-ARTICULAR DISTAL TIBIAL FRACTURES IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate management of non-articular distal tibial fractures. Materials & Methods: Between January 2000–December 2004, we treated 25 children with a non-articular distal tibia fracture. All fractures were isolated high velocity injuries (11-Road traffic accidents; 14-Sports injuries) without neurovascular compromise. Only 2 out of 25 were open (grade I) fractures. There were 19 males and 6 females aged 7–16 years (average 11.4 years). On radiography, the fracture patternsvaried from transverse-7 patients, spiral-8 patients, short oblique-7 patients, and communited-3 patients.16 patients had an associated fibula fracture. 20 of the 25 fractures were primarily treated in a cast while the remaining 5 were primarily treated by external fixator (3-Orthofix; 2-Ilizarov) as closed reduction was unstable. The average period in cast/external fixator was 8.4 weeks and the average follow-up 6.2 months. Results: On early follow-up, 8 of the 20 fractures (40%) that were initially treated in a cast needed intervention (plaster wedging-5; external fixator-3) because of displacement/angulation of the fracture. 7 (28%) of the 8 fractures needing intervention were short oblique fractures. There was no correlation between open injury/associated fibula fracture and displacement/angulation. Conclusion: Short oblique fractures had a high failure rate with cast treatment. We recommend close monitoring with weekly radiographs for cast treated fractures or alternately primary external fixation of unstable, short oblique fractures.

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