Triplane fracture

Case contributed by Leonardo Lustosa
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Ankle sprain during football (soccer) practice. Tender and swollen left ankle. Unable to bear weight.

Patient Data

Age: 11 years
Gender: Male
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Info

Metaphyseal tibial fracture (Salter-Harris type 2) and an epiphyseal tibial fracture (Salter-Harris type 3). This combination of fracture patterns describes a triplane fracture of the ankle.

Bowing fracture of the fibula.

Case Discussion

Triplane fractures (or triplanar) refer to the combination of a coronal fracture plane through the tibial metaphysis (Salter-Harris type 2) and a sagittal fracture plane through the tibial epiphysis (Salter-Harris type 3). The physis is also injured in the axial plane.

This fracture pattern is mostly seen in adolescents.

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