Tibial Spine Fracture in an Adolescent Male After Minor Injury: A Case Report

Division

Far West

Hospital

Riverside Community Hospital

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

11-1-2022

Keywords

tibial spine, fracture, avulsion, wounds and injuries

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Emergency Medicine

Abstract

CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old male presented with right knee pain and swelling from a basketball injury. The right knee exam demonstrated minimal swelling, decreased range of motion secondary to pain, and generalized tenderness. A radiograph of the right knee revealed a tibial spine fracture.

DISCUSSION: Tibial spine fractures are avulsion fractures of the spine of the tibia at the insertion site of the anterior cruciate ligament. The incidence of avulsion fractures is higher in adolescents because the region of the apophyseal growth plate between the soft-tissue attachment site and the body of the bone is weaker in that age group. Tibial spine avulsion fractures are relatively uncommon and occur annually in approximately three per 100,000 children.

Publisher or Conference

Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

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