[Femoral fractures near the knee in the growth period]

Fractures of the distal part of the femur in children are difficult to classify as suggested by Aitken, Harris and Salter if the epiphyseal cartilage is injured. Such injuries are rare if seen in relation to the grand total of paediatric lesions. There are late complications, however. In unilateral closure of the epiphyseal cartilage growth will be irregular and there will be differences in leg length. The sequels to knee joint distortions with ruptures of the ligaments are significant. These ruptures will also result in leg malpositioning due to epiphyseal closure. Corrective measures are often necessary to straighten out the axial deviation and to compensate the differences in leg length. The authors' own patient material comprises besides epiphyseal fractures eight such ligamentous lesions with late complications.