Toddler's fracture: Difference between revisions
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*Usually pain with palpation and rotation of distal tibia | *Usually pain with palpation and rotation of distal tibia | ||
*Swelling may be minimal or absent | *Swelling may be minimal or absent | ||
==Differential Diagnosis== | |||
{{Tibial fractures peds}} | |||
==Evaluation== | ==Evaluation== | ||
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**May only present as faint oblique line on AP view | **May only present as faint oblique line on AP view | ||
**May need oblique view if strong suspicion but AP/lat are negative | **May need oblique view if strong suspicion but AP/lat are negative | ||
==Management== | ==Management== | ||
Revision as of 04:36, 10 May 2019
Background
- Also known as Childhood Accidental Spiral Tibial (CAST) fracture
- Nondisplaced (or minimally displaced) spiral fracture of the tibia
- Typically encountered in ambulating toddlers (9 months - 3 years) due to low energy trauma with rotational component (i.e. twisting body while one leg is planted).
- NOT generally associated with non-accidental trauma.
Clinical Features
- History of an otherwise healthy child, who was ambulating, falls and is then non-ambulatory or has painful ambulation.
- Usually pain with palpation and rotation of distal tibia
- Swelling may be minimal or absent
Differential Diagnosis
Pediatric Tibial Fractures
Evaluation
- X-ray of affected limb
- May only present as faint oblique line on AP view
- May need oblique view if strong suspicion but AP/lat are negative
Management
- Definite fracture
- Immobilize in long leg splint (knee flexed to provide rotational control and prevent weight bearing)
- Ortho follow up next day for definitive casting. Usually takes 3-4 weeks for healing without further intervention.
- Serial radiographs to monitor for developing deformity (ie leg length discrepancy or varus/valgus angular deformity).
- Negative x-ray with high suspicion for occult fracture
- Immobilize and follow up with ortho for bone scan or repeat x-ray in 1 week
Disposition
- Discharge with ortho follow-up