My Orthopedic Surgery

A tibial tubercle avulsion fracture is usually an injury to the knee occurring in adolescence, during the transitional phase of physeal closure just prior to completion of growth. This fracture most often is an isolated injury related to push-off or landing while jumping as the quadriceps eccentrically contracts to support the individual's weight. The fracture tracks through the proximal tibial epiphysis and may extend into the anterior portion of the knee joint. The proximal tibia physis closes from posterior to anterior, and the fracture pattern is dependent on the amount of physeal closure present at the time of injury. Some authors consider this injury to be a variant of a Salter-Harris III fracture pattern. Open reduction and internal fixation is recommended, as reduction is difficult to maintain against the pull of the quadriceps muscle.
Synonyms and related keywords: tibial tubercle fractures, knee fracture
Author: Janos P Ertl, MD

Tibial tuberosity fractures are infrequent fractures affecting physically active adolescents. Activities involving powerful contraction of the knee extensors, such as springing and jumping movements, can result in avulsion fractures of the tibial tuberosity apophysis. This condition should be distinguished from Osgood-Schlatter disease, a chronic apophysitis of the tibial tuberosity due to recurrent traction injury.
Synonyms and related keywords: tibial tuberosity avulsion, Osgood-Schlatter disease, tibial tuberosity apophysis
Lau & Ramachandran 200