Triplane Fracture of the Distal Tibial Epiphysis

An, Jin Hwan; So, Jae Keun; Ok, Jae Chul

Abstract

The triplane fracture of the distal end of the tibia in adolescents is considered uncommon injuries, but recently it has received considerable attention in the orthopaedic literature. We reviewed five patients who had been treated at Kyung Hee University Hsopital for triplane fractures and followed up at least one year. The purposes of this paper were to determine the configuration of the fracture and the results of treatment. The cause of injury was slip down in three patients, fall down in one patients and sports injury in one patient. The mechanism of injury was supination-external rotation in four patients and unknown in one patient. The plain x-ray and CT were evaluated in all patients. On radiological evaluation, the initial displacement more than 2mm observed in four patients, but displaced fractures were reduced less than 2mm after treatment. The two fragment fractures were seen in two patients, three fragments in three patients. At last follow-up, complete union with anatomical position occurred without degenerative change of ankle joint and any deformity. We treated operatively in two patients, one with arthroscopic reduction and percutaneous pinning, the other with open reduction and internal fixation. Also we treated conservatively in one minimal displaced fracture and two displaced fractures. The results were graded using a modification of the Weber protocol. Points were assigned for pain, walking, activity, radiographic findings, function of the ankle joint, and deformity. The results was classified as excellent in 5 patients and good, fair and poor results was none. The complications was not developed in atl patients. The initial displacement, No. of fragments and treatment method were not significantly affect the results of treatment. Finally, we had excellent results in triplane fracture if the reduction less than 2mm regardless initial displacement can obtained.