Distal tibial epiphyseal fractures

Abstract

Distal tibial epiphyseal fractures are significant because they often cause tibial growth disturbance. Distal tibial epiphyseal fractures are the second most common epiphyseal fractures, after distal radial epiphysis. Despite prompt diagnosis and correct treatment, serious complications, such as progressive deformation and permanent disability, are possible. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent these injuries. Prevention is possible only by studying injury pattern, mechanism and locations where fractures occur. In total, medical records of 197 children treated for distal tibia epiphyseal fracture in the period from January 1st, 2010 to January 1st, 2017 were analyzed. Due to insufficient data, 80 of them were excluded from the study. Thirty-seven children were treated in Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb and eighty in the Children's Hospital Zagreb. In the studied group of children, there were 81 (69.2%) boys and 36 (30.8%) girls. The average age at the time of injury was 12.3 years, with boys being on average 17 months older than girls. ICD 10 classification was used. The most common mechanism of injury was falling, in 90 cases (76.9%). Sport grounds were the most common location where injuries occurred, in 36 cases (30.8%), while the household was the second most common, 27 (23.1%) cases. The most common activities during which injuries occurred were leisure activities, in 52 (44.4%) patients, and sports in 47 (40.2%) patients. The most common activity during which distal tibial epiphyseal fractures occurred was football and leisure activities on inadequate sport grounds. Prevention measures should mainly focus on the sports activities in children aged between 10 and 16 years.