Simultaneous bilateral versus unilateral tibial tubercle fractures

PurposeTibial tubercle/tuberosity fractures are rare injuries in young patients accounting for less than one percent of physeal fractures. Bilateral simultaneous fractures are even rarer, with only a few case reports in literature. The purpose of our study was to describe the largest case series of bilateral simultaneous tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures and compare it with unilateral fractures. We also wanted to compare our bilateral fractures case series with all the cases reported in the last 65 years.MethodsIRB approved retrospective study involving patients under age 18 years with tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures. Bilateral simultaneous fractures were compared to a unilateral group including demographic data, mechanism of injury, clinical exam findings, complication rates, and outcomes including return to function. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney and Fisher Exact tests to compare the different groups.Results138 patients (131 males, 7 females) from a tertiary children’s hospital between 2012 and 2019 with tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures were included. 11 bilateral simultaneous fractures (BL Group) were identified and compared to age matched cohort from the 127 unilateral fracture patients (UL group). There was no significant difference found in BMI, height, weight, age, sex, mechanism of injury, return to functional range of motion, and return to sports between the groups. 7/11 (63%) of the patients in the BL group who sustained simultaneous fractures had to be home bound and could not attend school for an average of 8.3 weeks. There was a higher rate of complications in the BL group (63.3%) compared to the UL group (21.1%), which was statistically significant. The most common complications in the bilateral group were hardware removal and wound dehiscence.ConclusionThis first case series comparing unilateral versus bilateral simultaneous tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures suggests that the final outcomes of the two groups are similar, however it shows a significantly higher complication rate and hardware removal rate in the BL group. This study is also the first to highlight the significant initial morbidity in the BL fracture group with issues with regards to early mobility and loss of school-days. Keeping in mind the profound initial impact the bilateral injury poses to the patient; surgeons can possibly plan for rigid fixation for early mobilization to better prepare bilateral fracture patients for the early post-operative recovery process.     

Simultaneous bilateral avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity. A case report

Bilateral avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity is a rare injury. A 14-year-old male gymnast sustained simultaneous tibial tuberosity displaced fractures while attempting a forward flip. The recommended treatment was open reduction and internal fixation. Functional results were excellent one year after surgical treatment.     

Comminuted simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fractures: a case report

A 16-year-old male had simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fractures after making a sudden stop while running at full speed. The left knee injury (type V) was minimally displaced, was treated conservatively with closed reduction, and the patient recovered uneventfully. The right tibial tubercle injury was unusual. The tuberosity and anterior aspect of the proximal epiphysis remained as one, but there was severe intra-articular comminution posterior to the displaced tubercle fragment. The right knee injury (type III) required open reduction and internal fixation to reduce the apophyseal fragment and 2 intra-articular displaced fragments. The patient's recovery was complicated by a severe, persistent flexion deformity on the right side. Eventually, the patient required manipulation under anaesthesia, extensive continuous passive mobilisation and a turnbuckle extension splint. A residual 5-degree flexion deformity remained at 16 months post-injury. This case highlights the importance of identifying any intra-articular fragments, their careful anatomical reduction, and aggressive mobilisation when treating tibial tubercle avulsion fractures.     

Acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures

Acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures are uncommon, and these injuries typically occur in mature-appearing adolescent boys involved in jumping sports, particularly basketball. The developmental anatomy of the tibial tuberosity and the changes surrounding normal physiologic epiphysiodesis render this structure susceptible to acute avulsion fractures. Possible associated injuries include patellar and quadriceps avulsions, collateral and cruciate ligament tears, and meniscal damage. The treatment of this injury is based on the amount of displacement and associated injuries. Nondisplaced fractures are treated nonoperatively with cast immobilization. Displaced fractures require open reduction and internal fixation. Even in Type III injuries, the outcome is usually excellent.     

Acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures

A retrospective analysis of 18 patients with 19 acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures was performed. Mean age at injury was 13 years 8 months. Mean follow-up time was 2 years 8 months. A group of four preadolescent patients ages 9 to 12 years at injury was identified. Participation in athletics, particularly basketball, resulted in 77% of fractures. There were one type IA, three type IB, two type IIA, six type IIB, two type IIIA, four type IIIB, and one type IV fractures. Fifteen fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and four by closed reduction and cylinder cast immobilization. Three cases (15.7%) of extensor mechanism disruption were noted, two patellar tendon avulsions and one quadriceps avulsion. Final outcome was good in all patients regardless of fracture type or treatment. There were no complications.     

手术治疗肥胖成人胫骨结节撕脱骨折7例临床分析

背景：胫骨结节撕脱骨折多发生于青少年,较少见于成人。截至目前,有关成人胫骨结节撕脱骨折的报道罕见。目的：探讨切开复位接骨板螺钉内固定治疗肥胖成人胫骨结节撕脱骨折的疗效。方法：2008年9月至2013年6月行切开复位接骨板螺钉内固定治疗7例肥胖成人胫骨结节撕脱骨折患者,定期随访,按照HSS膝关节评分评估膝关节功能。结果：7例全部获得随访,随访时间为12~18个月,平均12.6个月。骨折均获得Ⅰ期愈合,愈合时间为9~15周,平均12周。膝关节屈伸活动范围平均125°,HSS评分均〉95分。结论：切开复位接骨板螺钉内固定治疗肥胖成人胫骨结节撕脱骨折的效果良好。     

Acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in the sporting adolescent

Introduction  The authors report 7 cases of acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures. The fracture occurred in 6 out of the 7, after an abrupt tension of the patellar tendon in male sporting adolescents (age 13–17 years). Two patients presented symptoms of homolateral Osgood-Schlatter’s disease before the lesion. Method  According to Ogden’s classification, the tibial tubercle avulsion fracture was not displaced in 3 cases (stage IA) and was treated conservatively by immobilization for 6 weeks. In 4 cases, the fracture was displaced and necessitated an internal fixation with plaster for about 6 weeks. A torn patellar tendon was noted in one adolescent having a stage IIIB avulsion fracture. Result  The mean follow-up was of 4.5 years (1.5–7.5 years). The results were satisfactory: complete functional recovery, resumption of sport at the previous level and absence of recurvatum.     

Osteogenesis imperfecta presenting as simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in a child: a case report

This is a case report of a unique presentation of a mild form of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) (type IA) in a 9-year-old African-American boy who presented with simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fractures. The boy presented to the authors' emergency room complaining of acute bilateral knee pain. He could not perform a straight leg raise. Other than his orthopaedic examination, significant findings included blue sclera and irregular teeth. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed bilateral tibia tubercle avulsion fractures. The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation of his fractures, and postoperative genetic testing confirmed that the patient was heterozygous for OI. The authors present the fourth reported case of simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle fractures. To their knowledge this is the first case of OI presenting with these fractures, the youngest reported case, and the first case with MRI documentation.     

Tibial tubercle fracture with avulsion of patellar ligament

Combined fractures of the tibial tubercle and the patellar ligament are rare. Here we report the case of an 18-year-old boy who fell to the ground while playing basketball and suddenly felt a pop in his left knee; thereafter he was unable to stand. In-hospital radiographic examination revealed a tibial tubercle fracture with a high-riding patella, and the diagnosis was a Salter-Harris type IV tibial fracture associated with a sleeve fracture. The patient underwent surgery using a wire loop, an Ethibond suture (Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA), and a staple to repair the site of the injury. The knee was immobilized for 4 weeks and after 2 months of follow-up, the patient was pain free with normal motion and strength. In conclusion, combined tibial tubercle fracture and avulsion of the patellar ligament are rare. The authors assert that the repair technique that is described herein supports reduced pain, early rehabilitation, and successful outcomes.     

Tibial shaft fracture following tibial tubercle osteotomy

Tibial tubercle osteotomy has been reported to be an excellent exposure for a very stiff primary or revision knee requiring total knee arthroplasty. In 1993, the Center for Hip and Knee Surgery performed 657 primary and 16 revision total knee arthroplasties, using tibial tubercle osteotomy in 9 cases, 2 of which sustained tibial shaft fractures, because of which the Center's experience is reviewed.