Acute tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in the sporting adolescent.
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.
Zrig
Makram
M
Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatic Surgery, Aziza Othmana Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. zrigmak@yahoo.fr
Annabi
Hedi
H
Ammari
Taoufik
T
Trabelsi
Mohsen
M
Mbarek
Mondher
M
Ben Hassine
Habib
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome