title: Knee laxity associated with a proximal diaphyseal tibial and fibular fracture.
abstract: If operative treatment of a proximal diaphyseal tibial and fibular fracture is required, in most cases, it involves reduction and stabilization of only the tibial fracture. In this case report, after stabilization of the tibial fracture with an intramedullary nail, the patient continued to demonstrate significant varus knee laxity, despite an intact proximal tibiofibular joint and undisplaced fibular head. The stability of the knee was achieved only with internal fixation of the segmental fibular fracture. This case shows the importance of assessing knee laxity in all cases of proximal tibial and fibular fractures.
authors.affiliation: NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA. nirmal.tejwani@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tejwani
authors.forename: Minhal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chattoo
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolinsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome