Tillaux Fractures Research Articles

Isolated Tillaux fracture of the ankle in an adult. Sonographic diagnosis of a rare injury.

Isolated Tillaux fracture of the ankle in an adult. Sonographic diagnosis of a rare injury.

An Unusual Presentation of Chaput Tubercle Fracture with Coexisting Bimalleolar Component Involving Lateral and Posterior Malleoli: A Case Report

Background: Chaput tubercle fracture is a counterpart to adolescent Tillaux fracture, which occurs at the anterolateral part or the attachment site of the antero-inferior tibiofibular ligament on the distal tibia. It is rare, and its presentation may not be well appreciated in X-rays, which depicts the importance of a computed tomography (CT) scan of the ankle to reveal the same. Case Report: A 25-year-old gentleman presented to Chettinad Hospital, India, casualty with acute onset of pain, swelling, and restricted movements at the ankle joint following a road traffic accident. Ankle CT revealed a Chaput fracture along with a bimalleolar fracture (posterior and lateral malleoli). The complex displaced fracture was managed with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with plate osteosynthesis for the posterior malleoli and lateral malleoli, and tension band wiring was done for the Chaput tubercle fracture. At the end of two-year follow-up, the patient was able to mobilise without any support. Conclusion: Through this case report, we would like to enumerate the rarity of Chaput tubercle fracture associated with bimalleolar fracture of the ankle, which will be evaluated better with a CT evaluation in the first place. At the same time, it gives valuable information for the preoperative surgical plan.

Ankle syndesmotic ligaments avulsion fractures: incidence in adult population

BackgroundDistal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury is often associated with ankle fractures in adults. Injuries to the anterior/posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL/PITFL) may present as a mid-substance tear or as an avulsion at insertion. Tibial and fibular avulsion of the AITFL is known as Tillaux fracture and Wagstaffe fracture, respectively. Tibial avulsion of the PITFL is referred to as a Volkmann fracture, and fibular avulsion of the PITFL is still undefined and has not been reported yet. The aim of this study is to summarize the incidence of these four avulsions, that is, tibial and fibular avulsions of the AITFL and PITFL.MethodRadiography and computed tomography (CT) imaging data of all adult patients with ankle fractures treated at our hospital between November 2010 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All ankle fractures were classified according to the Weber-AO and Lauge-Hansen classification systems by two experienced radiologists and two surgeons. The incidence of the four avulsions of the AITFL/PITFL was determined.ResultsIn total, 1,770 ankle fractures in 1,758 patients were included in this study. The total incidence of avulsions at the four insertions of the AITFL/PITFL (occurring at one, two, or three insertions) was found to be 26.3% (465/1,770). Volkmann fracture had the highest incidence (19.9%, 353/1,770), and it was followed by Tillaux fracture (5.3%, 93/1,770), Wagstaffe fracture (3.3%, 59/1,770), and fibular avulsion of the PITFL (0.5%, 8/1,770). It is noteworthy that fibular avulsion of the PITFL has been reported here for the first time. The incidence of avulsion at one insertion was 23.6% (418/1770) and 2.7% (47/1770) at multiple insertions.ConclusionIn adult ankle fractures, avulsion occurs at the four insertions of the AITFL/PITFL in more than 25% of patients. The tibial insertion of the PITFL had the highest incidence of avulsion among the four insertions, while the fibular insertion of the PITFL had the lowest. The four types of avulsions can be isolated or in association with other avulsions. Future research studies on these four types of avulsion fractures would help in accurate diagnosis, decision-making and treatment of ankle Syndesmosis injuries.Level of evidenceLevel III, retrospective cohort study.

Radiological characteristics and injury mechanism of Logsplitter injury: a descriptive and retrospective study

BackgroundLogsplitter Injury is a type of high-energy ankle fracture dislocation. The mechanism of injury has not been described in detail. A detailed understanding of the radiological features and pathological changes can further guide treatment.MethodsBetween April 2009 and December 2018, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 patients with Logsplitter injury. The study analysed the characteristics of fibular injury, tibial injury, syndesmosis injury, medial injury and lateral ligament injury on preoperative X-ray and CT scans. The incidence of the different injury types was summarised. The correlation between Logsplitter injuries and the mechanisms causing them were analysed using the Lauge-Hansen classification of ankle fractures.ResultsThe study provides data on the types of fractures observed. Of the total fractures, 98.4% were open fractures. The fibula injuries were classified as no fracture (1.6%), transverse or short oblique fractures (61.3%), butterfly fragments (25.8%), and comminuted fractures (11.3%). The tibial injuries included compression of lateral articular surfaces (38.7%) and posterior compressions (6.5%). Medial injuries, including medial malleolar fractures, accounted for 87.1%, and deltoid ligament rupture accounted for 12.9%. The study found that injuries to the syndesmosis consisted of simple ligament ruptures (11.3%), Tillaux fractures (8.1%), Volkmann fractures (43.5%), and Tillaux and Volkmann fractures (37.1%). In 12.9% of cases, there was a complete rupture of the lateral collateral ligament. Based on the Lauge-Hansen classification, 87.1% of injuries were pronation-abduction injuries, while 8.1% were pronation and external rotation injuries, and 1.6% were supination external rotation injuries. Furthermore, 3.2% of cases could not be classified.ConclusionThe pathoanatomic characteristics of Logsplitter injury are diverse, with some cases accompanied by collateral ligament injury. It is important to note that these evaluations are objective and based on current results. The most common injury mechanism is vertical violence combined with abduction, although in some cases, it may be a vertical combined external-rotation injury.Level of evidence(4) case series.Trial registrationThis study has been approved by the ethical research committee of the Honghui Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, under the code: 202,003,002.

Closed reduction and internal fixation for tillaux fractures, based on pre-operative three-dimensional computed tomography.

This study aimed to propose treatment protocol and identify patterns of tillaux fractures using three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) analysis and to describe an effective reduction technique. Forty-two juvenile patients with tillaux fractures were evaluated with 3D-CT scan for fracture displacement pattern and received surgical treatment. Tillaux fragment was reduced by pushing the superomedial quadrant part of the fragment slightly downward towards the ankle joint from anterolateral to posteromedial through 5-mm skin incisions with mosquito forceps. A 4.0 cannulated screw was subsequently inserted from the anterolateral to the posteromedial side parallel to the ankle joint. We analysed the distance and direction of fracture displacement with 3D-CT before the surgery. Pre-operative and post-operative plain radiographs were evaluated. Pre-operative 3D-CT analysis revealed a common fracture pattern, varus tilt, and external rotation of fragment. We achieved satisfactory reduction with residual fracture gaps less than 2mm in 42 cases. Two cases had a 13-mm anterior gap that was reduced by mini-open reduction because of periosteal impingement. No significant clinical complications were found. The closed reduction technique developed based on the fracture pattern identified by 3D-CT anatomical analysis is safe and effective in treating tillaux fractures.

Computed Tomography Analysis of Distal Tibia Physeal Fracture Patterns: A Classification and Technique for Optimizing Screw Trajectory.

Fractures involving the anterolateral distal tibia, often referred to as Tillaux or Triplane fractures, are often treated operatively to achieve an anatomic reduction of the ankle joint articular surface. Although axial images from computed tomography scans are commonly obtained to measure displacement, no studies have examined these fracture patterns in the axial plane. This information may be useful to guide screw trajectory with only fluoroscopic imaging intraoperatively. We queried an institutional radiology report database for all "Tillaux" or "triplane" fractures and manually reviewed to identify fractures with an anterolateral tibia fragment. The axial image immediately caudal to the physis or physeal scar was used for measurements. The angle between the incisura and the fracture line exiting the incisura was measured. The width of the fracture fragment and the anterior distal tibia was then measured perpendicular to the incisura, representing the width that would be seen on an intraoperative mortise. A cluster analysis was performed to identify fracture patterns. The average age of patients included in the study was 16 ± 2 years. Sixty-nine patients met inclusion criteria 32 patients with Tillaux fractures (46.4%) and 37 patients with triplane fractures (53.6%) met study inclusion criteria for a total of 69 patients. The cluster analysis demonstrated 3 fracture patterns. For type 1 (n=16), the mean was 24.5 ± 6.5 degrees from the incisura and the mean distance from the tibiofibular joint was 21.1 ± 6.3%. For type 2 (n=20), the mean was 58.6 ± 7.2 degrees and the mean distance was 48.7 ± 8.9%. For type 3 (n=33), the mean was 88.6 ± 6.3 degrees and the mean distance was 49.1 ± 9.7%. This is the first study to identify that pediatric distal tibia physeal fractures occur in 3 common patterns with consistent fragment sizes and fracture planes. This information can optimize screw start point and trajectory in the axial plane when referencing a mortise x-ray and C-arm beam. Diagnostic, Level III.

A Tillaux Fracture and Concurrent Nondisplaced Salter-Harris Type III Fracture of the Distal Fibula: A Case Report

The Salter-Harris classification system categorizes pediatric fractures in relation to the physis. A Salter-Harris type III fracture occurs from the physis extending to the epiphysis. Tillaux fractures are a type of Salter-Harris type III fracture that occurs due to incomplete fusion of the growth plate and includes the anterolateral tibial epiphysis. This specific fracture is unique to adolescents due to the anterior tibiofibular ligament's strength in relation to the growth plate, causing avulsion of the tibial fragment. The settings for a Tillaux fracture and a Salter-Harris type III fracture are uncommon due to the mechanism of injury, and it is incredibly rare to have two separate fractures of these classifications in the same ankle. In this case study, a 16-year-old male presented to the emergency department after sustaining trauma to the right ankle via a skateboarding accident. Initial radiographs showed no evidence of acute fracture, and CT imaging was performed. CT scan of the right lower leg found a Tillaux fracture of the distal right tibia with a 2 mm displacement and a nondisplaced Salter-Harris type III distal fibula fracture. Closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation of the distal tibia fracture were performed. The repair of this fracture was complicated due to the presence of two distinct fractures. This case study aims to provide a viable option to successfully repair this complex presentation as well as explain imaging findings that differentiate this fracture from other pathologies that are not managed operatively.

Tillaux Fracture Associated with Adult Ankle Fracture Injury.

Tillaux fractures in adults are rare and, if unrecognized, can lead to ankle fracture healing complications, early progression of arthritis, and limited ankle movement caused by pain and degenerative changes. The Tillaux fracture was first described by Paul Tillaux as an external rotation injury of the ankle, involving an avulsion fracture of the distal anterolateral tibia. This fracture can be easily overlooked on plain radiographs in the adult. A high index of suspicion for this type of fracture pattern along with the use of computed tomographic scanning can help confirm the suspected diagnosis, rule out other tibial injuries, and provide more information on the best course of action. Historically, Tillaux fractures have been more common in adolescents because of the open tibial epiphyseal plate. Once the epiphyseal plate fully closes, skeletal maturity is achieved, thus making it extremely unusual for the anterior tibiofibular ligament to cause an avulsion fragment of the distal anterolateral tibia. Because of how uncommon this type of fracture is in adults, it has rarely been reported in our literature. We reviewed the literature and present a case report of this rare fracture injury.

Bilateral simultaneous rotational ankle fractures: case series and literature review

Bilateral Simultaneous rotational ankle injuries are rare entities with little number of cases reported in literature. Unlike axial type ankle fractures, they tend to happen as a result of pivoting trauma on the supportive limb. We conducted a case series and literature review of patients who presented with simultaneous bilateral ankle injuries and discussed their presentation and imaging. A total of Four cases in our institute and 6 separate cases reported in literature were found who sustained bilateral simultaneous rotational ankle fractures. There were 10 cases, nine of which were simultaneous and symmetrical ankle injuries. Injuries found were; Maisonneuve fracture, Tillaux fracture, Syndesmotic injury, Lauge-Hansen’s supination external rotation (SER), pronation external rotation (PER), supination adduction (SAD), and pronation abduction (PA). Four cases were presented in our institute over the last 10 years. A single case was asymmetrical in nature given the presence of an associated distal tibial metaphyseal fracture. Bilateral rotational ankle injuries are rare entity presenting simultaneously unlike axial type ankle fractures. When they present, they are likely caused by higher mechanism of injury than typical unilateral rotational ankle fractures. SER injuries are the most commonly found mechanism in both unilateral and bilateral ankle injuries.

231 Tillaux Fracture in a 40-Year-Old Man: A Rare Case Report

Abstract Tillaux fracture is an intra-articular Salter-Harris III fracture affecting the anterolateral aspect of the distal tibia. It is commonly seen in children and adolescents but rare for adults. As Tillaux fracture can be unstable, misdiagnosis may result in delayed surgical treatment and development of complications such as post-traumatic arthritis and persistent syndesmotic instability. A case of adult Tillaux fracture is reported, involving a 40-year-old gentleman who sustained a low energy injury. He presented to local hospital after being assaulted by a stranger. He tripped over a low fence and sprained his left ankle in external rotation. On examination, he was not able to weight bear. There were swelling and focal tenderness at the triangular concavity of distal fibula. Ankle X-Ray was reported as normal. It required CT scan for diagnosis after reviewed by orthopaedics team at fracture clinic. The patient was subsequently treated with lag screw fixation and recovered after 6 weeks post-operatively. This case highlights the importance of a systematic method to interpret ankle X-Ray. It is essential to observe the tibio-fibular overlap and any change in the outline of bony cortex of the fibular notch. CT scan has a high sensitivity in delineating fracture pattern hence it should be performed when there is difficulty to confirm the diagnosis solely based on X-Ray. In conclusion, Tillaux fracture should be suspected when patients present with external rotation injury. There should be low threshold to perform CT scan when there is any uncertainty with the ankle X-Ray interpretation.

Tillaux fracture in adults: Case report and review of literature

Avulsion fractures of the distal tibia with rupture of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament are known as Tillo’s fractures. This injury is commonly seen in adolescents as type III Salter-Harris epiphysiolysis due to distal weakness of the tibia due to closure of the epiphysis. In adult patients, this type of fracture becomes atypical due to the presumed tear of the ligament to the bone avoiding avulsion. However, in recent decades, some cases have been described in the literature.The aim of this study is to present a case of Tillo’s fracture in an adult and add a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the mechanism of injury, associated lesions, treatment, postoperative care, and follow-up.

Isolated Tillaux Fracture in Adults - Literature Review Based on a Rare Case Report.

Isolated Tillaux fracture is a rare anterolateral distal tibia fracture frequently misdiagnosed in adults. It typically occurs in adolescents nearing skeletal maturity by avulsion of the anterior-inferior tibiofibular ligament. This case-based literature review study aims to elicit the existing information regarding this fracture in adults, and summarize its injury mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment procedures. According to the literature, this is only the eighth case described: a 46-year-old woman that suffered an isolated Tillaux fracture with 4 mm of displacement, and open reduction and fixation with double cannulated screws were performed. After proper rehabilitation, an excellent functional and radiological outcome was reached. It is important to recognize and appropriately treat these distinct injuries to prevent further instability, degenerative changes, and ankle joint function limitation. Early diagnosis and appropriate osteosynthesis play a significant role in a successful recovery prognosis.

Ankle Injuries.

Ankle Injuries.

All-epiphyseal versus trans-epiphyseal screw fixation for tillaux fractures: Does it matter?

BACKGROUNDTillaux fractures occur primarily in adolescents due to the pattern of physeal closure and are classified as Salter-Harris type III physeal fractures. Operative management with screw fixation is recommended for more than 2 mm of displacement or more than 1 mm of translation. However, the efficacy and complications of trans-physeal vs all-physeal screw fixation have not been investigated extensively.AIMTo compare the clinical and functional outcomes of trans-physeal (oblique) and all-epiphyseal (parallel) screw fixation in management of Tillaux fractures among pediatric patients. METHODSThis was an ethics board approved retrospective review of pediatric patients who presented to our tertiary children’s care facility with Tillaux fractures. We included patients who had surgical fixation of a Tillaux fracture over a 10 year period. Data analysis included demographics, mode of injury, management protocols, and functional outcomes. The patients were divided into group 1 (oblique fixation) and group 2 (parallel fixation). Baseline patient characteristics and functional outcomes were compared between groups. Statistical tests to evaluate differences included Fisher’s Exact or Chi-squared and independent samples t or Mann Whitney tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.RESULTSA total of 42 patients (28 females and 14 males) were included. There were no significant differences in body mass index, sex, age, or time to surgery between the groups [IK2]. Sports injuries accounted for 61.9% of the cases, particularly non-contact (57.1%) and skating (28.6%) injuries. Computed Tomography (CT) scan was ordered for 28 patients (66.7%), leading to diagnosis confirmation in 17 patients and change in management plan in 11 patients. [GRC3] Groups 1 and 2 consisted of 17 and 25 patients, respectively. For mid to long-term functional outcomes, there were 14 and 10 patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the functional outcomes, pain scores, or satisfaction between groups. No infections, non-unions, physeal arrest, or post-operative ankle deformities were reported. Two (4.8%) patients had difficulty returning to sports post-surgery due to pain. One was a dancer, and the other patient had pain while running, which led to hardware removal. Both patients had parallel fixation. Hardware removal for groups 1 and 2 were 4 (23.5%) and 5 (20.0%) patients, respectively. The reasons for removal was pain in 2 patients, and parental preference in the remaining. CONCLUSIONThis is the largest reported series of pediatric patients with Tillaux fractures comparing functional outcomes of different methods of screw fixation orientation to the physis, which showed no difference regarding functional outcomes.

Case report of a Tillaux Chaput fracture in an adult having Becker muscular dystrophy with fracture of medial and posterior malleloli

Tillaux fractures are the avulsion of the distal tibial physis caused by the stress placed on the anterior tibio-fibular ligament, which are very rare in case of an adult. Due to severe swelling and overlapping of bones they are often missed in an innocuous looking X ray. Our case includes a 40 year old presented with severe pain and swelling of the ankle joint following trauma on a background history of Becker’s muscular dystrophy .While, the patient had proximal muscle weakness in lower limbs due to the comorbidity, Investigations also revealed the tillaux fracture with fractures of posterior and medial malleolus, which roughly outlines the injury mechanism to be of Supination-external rotation type. The objective of this publication is to highlight this unusual injury, to avoid incorrect diagnosis and its management which focuses on different challenges in achieving absolute reduction with early rehabilitation of the patient keeping in view of the existing co-morbidity. Keywords: Ankle injury, Adult Tillaux fracture, Chaput fracture syndesmotic injury, Tibiofibular ligament, Becker muscular dystrophy.

Comparison of routine computed tomography and plain X-ray imaging for malleolar fractures—How much do we miss?

PurposeMost patients with ankle arthrosis have a history of ankle fracture. Evaluation of malleolar fractures solely on X-ray may be insufficient to identify many pathologies that potentially contribute to ankle arthrosis, with a consequent poor prognosis. We investigated the pathologies that may be overlooked in malleolar fractures evaluated solely on plain X-ray. MethodsDuring 2012–2019, 65,479 patients attended our Emergency Department, of which 6508 complained of an ankle joint problem. X-rays indicated a fracture in 454 of these patients. Patients with isolated, simple fracture of the lateral or medial malleolus, or talus, or a history of surgery to this area were excluded; finally, 67 patients were enrolled (31 males, 36 females; mean age: 51,2 years (range: 9–83 years). Patients underwent X-ray imaging of both ankles in anterio-posterior, lateral, and Mortise views, as well as CT scans. Three independent observers with varied experience in diagnostic imaging (orthopaedic resident, experienced orthopaedic surgeon, and musculoskeletal radiologist) evaluated X-ray images blinded to CT scans. Their diagnoses were subsequently compared with CT findings. ResultsModeling results indicated that about 40% [95% CI: 32%, 50%] of pathologies may be overlooked based on X-ray evaluation, regardless of evaluator experience. The most frequently overlooked injuries were: Tillaux fracture, Pillon fracture, loose bodies and syndesmosis injury. All of that missed pathologies required dedicated treatment and could be easily missed with standard surgical approach. ConclusionEvaluation of malleolar fractures by X-ray only inevitably results in overlooking of many pathologies, despite the clinician’s experience. Routine CT scan can help to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, and thereby reduce the risk of ankle osteoarthrosis.

Adolescent Tillaux Fractures: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

The Tillaux fracture is an uncommon injury to the anterolateral distal tibial epiphysis. It occurs during a distinct time period when adolescent patients are transitioning to skeletal maturity. Owing to its rarity, the optimal management strategy for this fracture is not well-described. The aim of this review was to assess the outcomes of operatively and nonoperatively managed displaced adolescent Tillaux fractures. We analysed articles from The Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases that met our predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statements. A descriptive data analysis was performed. A total of 461 articles were identified from the data search, of which 13 articles were included for full-text analysis. Five of these studies reported recognised patient outcome measures and the remaining eight reported on radiographic follow-up. The reported studies included a total of 114 patients with Tillaux fractures; 58.8% of patients were female and 34.2% were male. Mean ages ranged from 12.5 to 15 years, with the youngest patient being 12 years old and the oldest 17 years old. Overall mean follow-up was 42.8 months. Of the patients, 40.4% were treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), 14.9% with closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF), and 1.8% arthroscopically. The remainder were treated nonoperatively. Outcome measures were excellent for all patients irrespective of operative management choice. Follow-up radiographic deformity was only evident in Tillaux fractures that were managed nonoperatively; deformity included poor joint congruity, angular deformity, and tibial shortening. These nonoperative patients have a residual fracture displacement of 2 mm. There were no reported instances of premature physeal closure for any patient. This review shows that excellent patient outcomes have been reported for different methods of operative fixation, however, study sizes are small and data is sparse. Further robust comparative studies are required to identify definitive conclusions. The use of established clinical and radiographic outcome measures will help improve the quality of future studies for this relatively rare injury.

Concurrent ipsilateral Tillaux fracture and medial malleolar fracture in adolescents: management and outcome

BackgroundThe concurrent ipsilateral Tillaux fracture with medial malleolar fracture in adolescents commonly suffer from high-energy injury, making treatment more difficult. The aim of this study was to discuss the mechanism on injury, diagnosis, and treatment of this complex fracture pattern.MethodsThe charts and radiographs of six patients were reviewed. The function was assessed by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scores.ResultsThe mean age at operation was 12.8 years. The mean interval from injury to operation was 7.7 days. Five Tillaux fractures and all medial malleolar fractures were shown on AP plain radiographs. One Tillaux fracture and two cases with avulsion of posterolateral tibial aspect were confirmed in axial computerized tomography. There was talar subluxation laterally with medial space widening in three and syndesmotic disruption in one. There were five patients sustaining ipsilateral distal fibular fractures. All fractures, except nonunion in two medial malleolar fractures and in one Tillaux fracture, healed within 6–8 weeks. There was one case of osteoarthritis of ankle joint. The average AOFAS score was 88.7.ConclusionsComputerized tomography is helpful in identifying the fracture pattern. Anatomic reduction and internal fixation of Tillaux and medial malleolar fracture was recommended to restore the articular surface congruity and ankle stability.

Radiographic analysis of adult ankle fractures using combined Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen classification systems

This study was to analyze ankle fractures for determining the epidemiology, types, distribution, possible mechanisms and diagnosis precision. Between January 2013 and December 2017, all Chinese patients older than 16 years of age with ankle fractures excluding old ankle fractures and pathological fractures in a tertiary care hospital were analyzed by using the Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen classification systems. Among 3952 patients with ankle fractures, 1225 fractures (31%) were Danis-Weber type A, 1640 (42%) were type B, 751 (19%) were type C, and 336 (9%) were perpendicular compression fracture. There were 1949 fractures on the left side and 2003 on the right with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Male patients between 16 and 50 years of age and women over 50 years had a higher incidence of ankle fractures accounting for 38.4% (1517/3952) and 22.2% (800/3952), respectively. Posterior malleolar fractures, fibular fractures above the inferior tibiofibular joint and Tillaux fractures were easily missed in the diagnosis, with 38 fractures (0.96%) being missed in the diagnosis. In conclusion, young and middle-aged men and older women have a higher incidence of ankle fractures, and use of the Lauge-Hansen and Danis-Weber classification systems can better help assessing the varied and complex ankle fractures, predicting the injuries, increasing diagnostic precision and decreasing misdiagnosis rate.

Isolated Triplane Fracture Of Distal Tibia In Adolescent

Introduction:Triplane fracture is a traumatic ankle fracture seen in children 10-17 years of age. Name derives from the fact that the fracture exists in the frontal, lateral, and transverse planes and considered as transitional injuries because occur during the period of distal tibial physeal closure. It results from supinationexternal rotation injury, same as tillaux fracture.Report:We presented a case of 14 years old male with right ankle pain after fall with twisted position while running. Examination revealed tenderness on his right ankle, and radiograph showed Salter-Harris IV of tibial epiphysis. CT scan was performed to determine fracture configurations. Open reduction and internal fixation was done using posterolateral approach using T buttress plate 6 holes to fix the metaphysis fracture. Subsequently anterolateral incision was done to assess epiphysis fracture however fracture site not displaced thus lag screw was abandoned. Postoperatively, the ankle was protected in a backslab for 2week; thereafter, the ankle was mobilized and subjected to progressively increasing motion. Weight bearing was allowed to resume at 6 weeks postoperatively. A normal gait had been achieved by 12 weeks postoperatively. The diagnosis of Triplane fracture poses a diagnostic challenge and often missed in healthcare centres. On standard AP and lateral radiographs, the fractures cannot be easily detected because of superimposition as radiographic sensitivity for Triplane fracture is only 50%. CT scan of the ankle is recommended if clinical findings are suggestive. The treatment of the Tillaux fragment with compression screws in the case of displacement of >2 mm which achieves anatomical reduction, rigid fixation and early mobilization gives good prognosis.Figure 1:CT scan viewFigure 2:CT scan viewFigure 3:Xray post fixationConclusion:Displacement of >2 mm in any plane is an indication for surgery for both triplane and tillaux fracture, to prevent persistent pain and osteoarthritis in the future. CT scan of the ankle is necessary prior to surgery.