Presentation
Trauma five hours prior to presentation. The patient tripped jumping from a small hill and now refuses to bear weight on the left leg.
Patient Data
Plain radiographs show a non-displaced fracture in the proximal metaphysis of the tibia, which does not extend all the way to the lateral cortex.
Follow-up three weeks after trauma shows partial consolidation and callus formation with a slight widening of the fracture medially.
Case Discussion
This is a case of proximal tibia metaphyseal greenstick fracture. It typically occurs in children 3-6 years of age. Treatment is usually conservative with casting for three weeks.
This fracture has a tendency for late varus deformity, known as Cozen's phenomenon, which usually self-corrects within 12-24 months without treatment. Surgical correction is rarely necessary.