J Korean Fract Soc.
1999 Apr;12(2):284-289.
Compartment Syndrome Complicating Avulsion Fractures of the Tibial Tubercle
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sang-Gye Paik Hospital, Inje University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Anatomy, Hanyang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Avulsion of the tibial tubercle is an uncommon physeal injury. Complications from this fracture have rarely been reported and seldom affect the long-term outcome. Three adolescent boys who sustained avulsion fracture of the tibial tubercle, were complicated by compartment syndrome and treated at Inje University Sang-Gye Paik Hospital from September 1989 to February 1995. Injury to the soft tissue surrounding the tibial tubercle avulsion may be more extensive than is usually appreciated. The anatomy of the proximal tibia and the tibial tubercle with nearby branches of the anterior tibial recurrent artery suggest a predisposing factor for the development of compartment syndrome. So, compartment syndrome should be added to the list of possible complications of this type of fracture.
