Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fracture, Pediatric
A tibial tubercle avulsion fracture is a break in the shin bone (tibia), just below the front of the knee joint (tibial tubercle). The tibial tubercle is where the tendon of the thigh muscle (quadriceps) attaches. Adolescents have a growth plate in this area. A growth plate is a spot where bone is still growing. It is not as solid as mature bone. As a result, this type of fracture is most common in people who are between 12 and 16 years of age.
A strong pull by the contraction of the quadriceps muscle can cause the tendon attached to this muscle to pull a piece of bone away from the top of the tibia (avulsion fracture).
There are three basic types of tibial tubercle avulsion fractures:
• A type I fracture causes …show more content…
A more severe fracture will require surgery. This includes some type I fractures and all type II and III fractures. The surgery to repair a fracture is called open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF).
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
If Your Child Has a Cast:
• Do not allow your child to stick anything inside the cast to scratch the skin. Doing that increases your child’s risk of infection.
• Check the skin around the cast every day. Report any concerns to your child’s health care provider. You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do not apply lotion to the skin underneath the cast.
• Do not let your child’s cast get wet if it is not waterproof.
• Keep the cast clean.
Bathing
• Do not have your child take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until his or her health care provider approves. Ask your child’s health care provider if your child can take showers. Your child may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
• If your child’s cast is not waterproof, cover it with a watertight plastic bag when he or she takes a bath or a shower.
Managing Pain, Stiffness, and
A tibial tubercle avulsion fracture is a break in the shin bone (tibia), just below the front of the knee joint (tibial tubercle). The tibial tubercle is where the tendon of the thigh muscle (quadriceps) attaches. Adolescents have a growth plate in this area. A growth plate is a spot where bone is still growing. It is not as solid as mature bone. As a result, this type of fracture is most common in people who are between 12 and 16 years of age.
A strong pull by the contraction of the quadriceps muscle can cause the tendon attached to this muscle to pull a piece of bone away from the top of the tibia (avulsion fracture).
There are three basic types of tibial tubercle avulsion fractures:
• A type I fracture causes …show more content…
A more severe fracture will require surgery. This includes some type I fractures and all type II and III fractures. The surgery to repair a fracture is called open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF).
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
If Your Child Has a Cast:
• Do not allow your child to stick anything inside the cast to scratch the skin. Doing that increases your child’s risk of infection.
• Check the skin around the cast every day. Report any concerns to your child’s health care provider. You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do not apply lotion to the skin underneath the cast.
• Do not let your child’s cast get wet if it is not waterproof.
• Keep the cast clean.
Bathing
• Do not have your child take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until his or her health care provider approves. Ask your child’s health care provider if your child can take showers. Your child may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
• If your child’s cast is not waterproof, cover it with a watertight plastic bag when he or she takes a bath or a shower.
Managing Pain, Stiffness, and