Fracture of the Anterior Tibial Spine in Children

Clinical and radiological results of arthroscopically treated tibial spine fractures in childhood

“…Moreover, they support the opinion that the surgical option facilitates a more satisfactory reduction of the fracture, thus avoiding the possible risk of a meniscal entrapment under the fractured tibial eminence or a possible healing of the fracture in a non-anatomical position, with the consequence of further instability or loss of extension of the knee [4,6,13,19].…”

“…This could be one of the possible reasons for the unsatisfactory outcomes of this type of pathological condition in terms of post-operative anterior knee stability. Grönkvist et al [4] have shown how continued growth of the tibial bone can compensate for the residual postoperative anterior knee laxity arising from the elongation of the ligament fibres. Consequently, the authors stated that the younger the patient the better the outcome.…”

“…Although a few studies have shown no difference in outcome of displaced tibial spine fractures treated conservatively versus surgically [2,4,17,23,24], many other authors advocate the surgical option so as to treat possible associated lesions, like meniscal tears or osteochondral injuries [12,13]. Moreover, they support the opinion that the surgical option facilitates a more satisfactory reduction of the fracture, thus avoiding the possible risk of a meniscal entrapment under the fractured tibial eminence or a possible healing of the fracture in a non-anatomical position, with the consequence of further instability or loss of extension of the knee [4,6,13,19].…”

“…Tibial eminence fractures are typical of early age and they are generally considered analogous to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in the adult [4,14,15]. Typically they occur in children between eight and 14 years of age as a consequence of a fall from a bicycle or from a motorcycle [4,16,20].…”

“…Typically they occur in children between eight and 14 years of age as a consequence of a fall from a bicycle or from a motorcycle [4,16,20].…”