Toddler fracture

Last revised by Mostafa Elfeky on 28 Dec 2022

A toddler fracture is a minimally displaced or undisplaced spiral fracture, usually of the tibia, typically encountered in toddlers. It is a potentially difficult diagnosis to establish on account of both the symptoms and imaging findings being subtle.

The term has sometimes also been used to describe occult fractures of other lower limb bones in the same age group (e.g. fibula, cuboid, calcaneum 1,3). It is important to note that this does not include spiral femoral fractures, which should raise suspicion of non-accidental injury 4.

Toddler fractures typically occur between nine months and three years of age 1 and are believed to be the result of new stresses placed on the bone due to recent and increasing ambulation.

Although early reports 5 suggested that tibial toddler fractures were indicative of non-accidental injury, subsequent work has suggested that this is not the case and that the vast majority are not suspicious 4. As such they should not raise the alarm when present in isolation and the correct age group (i.e. ambulating toddlers).

Children typically with vague symptoms, not clearly related to the tibia. Usually, they refuse to weight-bear and are irritable.

Conventional radiographs are all that are required, however, multiple views may be necessary as the fracture is often inapparent on one or more views. Internal oblique projection can better demonstrate the fracture in some cases 8. Nondisplaced oblique fracture will be noted in the middle or distal diaphysis of the tibia 9.

If despite multiple views, no fracture can be identified, follow-up radiographs usually will demonstrate slight sclerosis and periosteal reaction.

Toddler fractures usually require no treatment and spontaneously heal.

The Canadian radiologist, John Dunbar (1921-1997) first described toddler fractures in 1964 2.

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