J Korean Fract Soc.  2011 Jan;24(1):73-78. 10.12671/jkfs.2011.24.1.73.

Interposition of Periosteum in Distal Tibial Physeal Fractures of Children

• Chung PH
• Kang S
• Kim JP
• Kim YS
• Cho JW

• KMID: 1449420
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2011.24.1.73

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the factors influencing periosteal interposition in distal tibial physeal fractures of children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
34 cases of distal tibial physeal fractures were analysed. We confirmed the presence of periosteal interposition with MRI in all cases and accessed the relationship between periosteal interposition and gender, age, cause of injury, type of fracture, degree of initial displacement and after closed reduction.
RESULTS
9 (26.5%) of 34 fractures had interposed periosteum. There was no statistically significant correlation between periosteal interposition and gender, age, cause of injury (p>0.05). 5 (83.3%) of 6 pronation-eversion-external rotation type of fractures according to Dias-Tachjian classification had interposed periosteum and that was a statistically significant correlation (p=0.006). As Salter-Harris type was toward to high degree, there were decreasing tendency of periosteal interposition (p=0.026). There was high rate of periosteal interposition in case of displacement more than 2 mm in each initial and after closed reduction (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
There was high incidence of periosteal interposition in pronation-eversion-external rotation type with displacement more than 2 mm in distal tibial physeal fractures of children. But, periosteal interposition could occur in fractures with mild displacement less than 2 mm, if initial fracture displacement was more than 2 mm, the methods of treatment should be decided after confirm the presence of periosteal interposition with MRI after closed reduction.

Keyword

Child; Distal tibia; Physeal fracture; Periosteal interposition

MeSH Terms

Child
Displacement (Psychology)
Humans
Incidence
Periosteum

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A 7 year-old boy sustained physeal injury of the ankle. (A) According to the Dias-Dachjian classification, initial radiographs show pronation-eversion-external rotation type of distal tibial physeal fracture. (B) Post-reduction radiographs demonstrate satisfactory closed reduction. Distal tibia fracture has Thurston-Holland fragment (arrow), it representing Salter-Harris type II injury.

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  Fig. 2 Coronal and sagittal T2W MRI show the interposed periosteum in antero-medial aspect of distal tibial physeal fracture (arrow).

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  Fig. 3 (A) Intraoperative finding gross photography shows the interposed periosteun. (B) The probe is inserted into fractured physeal space. (C) The interposed periosteum was extracted. (D) The extracted periosteum was repaired with absorbable suture.

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  Fig. 4 (A) The distal tibial physeal fracture was fixed with 2 smooth pins. (B) At postoperative 4 years, the radiographs show no deformity or premature physeal closure.

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