In children with open physis, avulsion fracture of the tibia eminence, as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, is more commonly observed than an ACL rupture. Pure cartilaginous avulsions of the ACL tibia insertion seldom occurs. In such case, cartilaginous lesion is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed on plain radiograph and may result in a less favorable treatment outcome. We report two cases of cartilaginous tibia eminence fractures of the children that were initially overlooked from plain radiographs, and then diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, which was ultimately treated by arthroscopyassisted headless compression screw fixation.
Avulsion fracture at the femoral attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is very rare and has been reported mostly in skeletally immature patients. Authors experienced a case of avulsion fracture at the femoral attachment of ACL in a skeletally mature, a 21-year-old male associated with ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture. Here, authors report on the case with a literature review. Care should be taken because an avulsion fracture at the femoral attachment of ACL can be accompanied by ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture in skeletally mature patients.
PURPOSE To compare the clinical and radiological results after surgical treatments of the avulsion fractures of ACL between children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS 40 cases (18 cases of children, 22 cases of adults), who underwent surgical treatments after avulsion fractures of the ACL and followed up more than one year, were enrolled. Fractures were classified by modified Meyers & McKeever criteria. Range of motion, LK score, Lachman test, Pivot-Shift test, quadriceps muscle atropy and Telos® stress arthrometer were compared. RESULTS The types of fracture in children were categorized into 8 cases of type II, 10 cases of type III, and 2, 15, 5 cases of type II, III, IV each in adult group. Mean LK score showed significant difference between 99.3 points in children and 89.5 points in adults (p<0.05). In addition, accompanied injuries and the high degree of fracture leaded low LK score. However, there was no significant difference in range of motion, Lachman test and Pivot-Shift test. Anterior laxity by Telos® device showed an average of 2.0 mm in children, 2.5 mm in adults (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Children group showed better treatment results of avulsion fracture of ACL. Higher incidence of type II fractures and less combined injuries considered to be factors for better results.