HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kay, R. M. Articles by Matthys, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kay, R. M. Articles by Matthys, G. A.

Pediatric Ankle Fractures: Evaluation and Treatment

Dr. Kay is Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, and Attending Surgeon, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. Matthys is Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California School of Medicine.

Reprint requests: Dr. Kay, Pediatric Orthopaedics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Mailstop 69, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

Pediatric ankle fractures account for approximately 5% of pediatric fractures and 15% of physeal injuries. The biomechanical differences between mature and immature bones, as well as the differing forces applied to those bones, help explain the differences between adult and pediatric fractures. The potential complications associated with pediatric ankle fractures include those seen with adult fractures (such as posttraumatic arthritis, stiffness, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy) as well as those that result from physeal damage (including leg-length discrepancy, angular deformity, or a combination thereof). The goals of treatment are to achieve and maintain a satisfactory reduction and to avoid physeal arrest. A knowledge of common pediatric ankle fracture patterns and the pitfalls associated with their evaluation and treatment will aid the clinician in the effective management of these injuries.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. A. Schnetzler and D. Hoernschemeyer The Pediatric Triplane Ankle Fracture J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., December 1, 2007; 15(12): 738 - 747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]