Diaphyseal depression fracture of the tibia by a cricket ball in a child: A probable first report of rare injury

Abstract

Undescribed fracture patterns are rare presentations in fracture clinics and are mostly limited to a few reports in the literature if any. The pediatric diaphyseal fractures of the tibia usually follow common described patterns, such as transverse, spiral, oblique, or comminuted configuration. Depression fractures, though well described at the articular region such as tibial plateau, are not found at diaphyseal sites. The localized saucer-shaped depression fracture in the diaphysis thus is an undescribed injury. We present a rare report of an isolated, unicortical, and localized depression fracture of the tibial diaphysis in a 10-year-old child following hit by a cricket ball during the match. He was managed conservatively with good functional outcome. Knowledge of this rare pattern of injury is helpful to acknowledge its occurrence and its listing in scientific literature.