Paediatric Ankle Fracture and Transitional Injuries

Description

This transcript is from a presentation by Laura Tillotson, a children's orthopedic consultant, focusing on pediatric ankle fractures and transitional injuries. She outlines the significance of these injuries, noting that ankle fractures, while not common, are the second most frequent site for physical injuries in children, following wrist injuries. The discussion covers three main types of ankle fractures occurring near the growth plates – specifically emphasizing Salter-Harris types II, III, and IV fractures, their etiology, classification, and the importance of understanding physical implications on future growth.



Tillotson highlights the demographic most affected – active children aged 8 to 15 years involved in sports – and draws attention to the role of childhood obesity in increasing injury risk. She details the Salter-Harris classification, which categorizes fractures based on growth plate involvement, and elaborates on the complications associated with injuries near growth plates, such as premature closure and limb length discrepancies.



The presentation segues into a discussion about transitional injuries, particularly triplane fractures and their management, outlining the importance of radiological evaluation via CT scans to assess displacement and aid surgical planning. Tillotson concludes by underscoring the ongoing research, especially the 'oddsocks' study, aiming to clarify whether surgical intervention yields better outcomes than non-operative treatments for these pediatric injuries.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-251078

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