Abstract
Taking into consideration that distal epiphysis of the tibia is responsible of the 45% of its longitudinal growth, we emphasize the importance of this pathology trying to clarify which cases should be treated nonsurgically and which should undergo a surgical treatment in order to obtain the best possible results.
Seventy-five patients with distal epiphyseal fractures of the tibia and/or tibia and fibula were reviewed from 1993 to 2001. Sixty-two of them were male and 13 female, age of the patients ranged from 10 to 15 years old. They were evaluated according to the Lauge Haunsen classification which was modified by Dias and Tachdjian.
The results depended directly on the type of lesion and on the opportunity to perform a surgical reduction. The more frequent complications were in type III and IV of Salter and Harris. We believe that the future of these lesions, frequently seen in the orthopaedic field, with a higher incidence during the last years due to the increase of sports demands on children, depend directly on the initial physeal damage and the articular congruence obtained through the chosen treatment.
