J Korean Fract Soc.  1990 Nov;3(2):189-196. 10.12671/jksf.1990.3.2.189.

Clinical Analsis of the Salter-Harris Type II Epiphyseal Injury of the Distal Femur

• Kim ID
• Kim PT
• Park BC
• Lyu YG
• Han SI

• KMID: 2311258
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jksf.1990.3.2.189

Abstract

Although most of distal femoral epiphyseal fracture is Salter-Harris type II, its prognosis is not uniformly good and poses several problems such as limb length discrepancy, varus or valgus angulation and limitation of knee motion. Authors experienced 9 cases of Salter-Harris type II distal femoral epiphyseal injuries who were treated at Kyoungpook National University Hospital from January, 1982 to June, 1987, All were foloowed for an average of two years and ten months (range, one to seven years) and analysed clinically. The results abtained were as follows. 1. 5 out of 9 cases between 16 and 18 years of age. 2. Significant limb length discrepancy beyond 2cm occurred in only 1 case, lengthening of 0.6cm in 2 cases and less than 1.0cm shortening in 6 cases. 3. Valgus angulation of 10 degress or less occurred in 5 cases and 20 degrees of valgus defromity in 1 case. Varus angulation of 5 degrees or less occurred in 2 cases and of 6 degrees in 1 case. 4. Limitation of knee motion was not observed in all cases. 5. Salter-Harris type II epiphyseal plate injuries does not always carry a good prognosis especially when involving the distal femoral epiphsis. It can bring about growth acceleration or deceleration and angular deformity. Early and anual follow-up until cessation of growth is mandatory.

Keyword

Distal femoral epiphyseal injury; S-H type II