Management of pediatric tibial tubercle fractures: Is surgical treatment really necessary?

Fractures of the anterior tibial tubercle are infrequent lesions. They often occur in male adolescent athletes, usually in relation with sports involving powerful jumps. We present a retrospective study of 10 patients, with an average age of 15.1 years, all of them males, and a total of 11 acute avulsions of the anterior tibial tubercle. We analyzed the etiology of the lesion, the type of treatment used as well as non-weight bearing period, protected immobilization period, and time until sports reincorporation. We obtained 11 acute avulsions: one case of type I; three cases of type II; four cases of type III; and three cases of type IV. Five cases were treated conservatively, including the three cases of type IV, and surgery was only performed in six cases since an anatomical reduction was not obtained with closed reduction. The results were satisfactory in all cases, with 100% percentage of sport reincorporation in less de 25 weeks. We registered only one complication, intolerance of material, which did not require additional surgeries. These fractures, although rare, have an excellent prognosis. Even if they are often treated surgically, we have obtained good results with the conservative treatment in patterns previously reported as surgical.

[Hallux metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis: retrospective comparison between blocked plate and cannulated screws]. / Artrodesis metatarsofalángica del hallux: comparación retrospectiva entre placa bloqueada y tornillos canulados.

INTRODUCTION: There are multiple methods and implants used for the metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis of hallux without evidence in favor of one or the other in the bibliography. The goal was to compare the clinical and radiological results of 2 methods and implants used in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 37 feet between 2013 and 2017 (22 feet by plate and 15 by cannulated screws). Clinical and radiological variables were collected and the AOFAS and Manchester-Oxford scales were applied. Variables were studied descriptively and analytically through the SPSSv15 program. RESULTS: The group intervened by plate was composed of 77% of women, with an average age of 65 years and a distribution by diagnosis of severe hallux valgus (HV) (36%), hallux valgus relapse (HVR) (36%) and hallux rigidus (HR) (28%), compared to 80% of women, 68 years old and HV (34%), HVR (46%) HR (20%) in the group of cannulated screws. No significant differences were found in the correction of angles for HV or HVR. The rate of painful pseudoarthrosis was 13% in both and the re-intervention was 18% in the plate group and 26% in the screw group. Both the AOFAS and M-O scales were better in the plate group 63.8 vs 52.6 (p = 0.07); 30.1 vs 41.0 (p = 0.10); as well as patient satisfaction 86% vs 66% (p 0.05) and postoperative pain 3.68 vs 5.58 (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Small study groups, not implant randomization, both options are functional without being able to find a preferred one.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Existen múltiples métodos e implantes utilizados para la artrodesis metatarsofalángica del hallux sin evidencia a favor de uno u otro en la bibliografía. El objetivo fue comparar los resultados clínicos y radiológicos de dos métodos e implantes utilizados en nuestro centro. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Revisión retrospectiva de 37 pies entre 2013 y 2017 (22 pies mediante placa y 15 mediante tornillos canulados). Se recogieron variables clínicas y radiológicas y se aplicaron las escalas AOFAS y Manchester-Oxford. Se estudiaron las variables descriptivas y analíticamente mediante el programa SPSS v15. RESULTADOS: El grupo intervenido mediante placa lo compuso 77% de mujeres, con una edad media de 65 años y una distribución por diagnósticos de hallux valgus (HV) severo (36%), recidiva de hallux valgus (RHV) (36%) y hallux rigidus (HR) (28%), frente a 80% de mujeres, con media de 68 años y HVS (34%), RHV (46%) y HR (20%) en el grupo de tornillos canulados. No se encontró diferencias significativas en la corrección de los ángulos para HVS o RHV. La tasa de seudoartrosis dolorosa fue de 13% en ambos y la reintervención fue de 18% en el grupo de placas y 26% en el grupo de tornillos. Tanto la escala AOFAS como la M-O fueron mejores en el grupo de placa 63.8 versus 52.6 (p = 0.07); 30.1 versus 41.0 (p = 0.10); así como la satisfacción del paciente 86 versus 66% (p 0.05) y el dolor postoperatorio 3.68 versus 5.58 (p 0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: Son grupos pequeños de estudio, sin aleatorización de implantes, ambas opciones son funcionales sin poder encontrar una preferente.