Concomitant multiple closed contiguous physeal injuries in a limb with an undescribed ‘distractional-separation’ type with vascular compromise: a report of two cases

Abstract

Though physeal injuries are common in children, concomitant multiple closed contiguous physeal injuries in a limb along with vascular compromise are rare. An associated distractional-separation type of physeal injury is being documented for the first time. We present here two such cases. Two children, aged 6 months and 3 years, respectively, suffered a roadside high velocity trauma and thus form the part of this case report. Because of the delay in seeking treatment and, or, the nature of injuries, it was associated with a tragic complication--an amputation in both cases. Although, the limb in our cases could not be salvaged, these reports describe these unusual injury patterns for the first time and re-emphasize the awareness of urgent recognition of the associated vascular insult.