Abstract

• Nicoll has stated that such factors as initial displacement, soft tissue damage, comminution of fracture or/and fibula fracture will affect the healing & prognosis of a tibia fracture. Teitz noted that the tibia fractures with an intact fibula are after associated with complications such as varus deformity, delayed unlon and ankle joint pain.
  The mechanism of injury on the tibia fractures with intact fibula is that the shortening effect of the long flexor muscles are converted to rotational force by the torsion force. In a child, the fibula is protected from fracture by the flexibility & the significant compliance of the proximal and distal ligaments.
  The characteristics distinguishing between an adult & a child will be observed in fracture patterns, complications and treatment processes. The twenty two patients who were treated at the Department of Orthopedics, Yeungnam University Rospital between 1986 and 1989 were reported.
  The results were as follows :
  1. In a child, there were varus deformity and no delayed union, and treatment was done by closed reduction in all cases
  2. In an adult, there were varus deformity and delayed union, and treament was done by fibula osteotomy.
  3. In fracture patterns, there were almost all oblique and spiral fracures. In the fracture site, there were almost all in the middle one-third in adults, and in the distal one-third in children.
  4. There was no ankle joint pain in less than five degrees of verus angulation.
• Key words: Tihia fracture, Intact fibula, Fibula osteotomy

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