Proximal Tibiofibular Reconstruction in Adolescent Patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Pediatric orthopedics

Background:

• Proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ) instability can manifest as dislocations, lateral knee pain, or common peroneal nerve irritation.
• Accurate preoperative diagnosis is crucial, often involving a 4- to 6-week taping trial before considering surgical reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a surgical technique for treating PTFJ instability specifically in adolescent patients.
• To address the complexities of surgical planning in adolescents with open physes.

Main Methods:

• Surgical technique description focusing on avoiding physes during drilling or screw fixation.
• Emphasis on careful preoperative assessment and conservative management trials.

Main Results:

• The described technique aims to mitigate risks associated with open physes, such as growth arrest and limb length discrepancy.
• Successful surgical management of PTFJ instability in adolescents requires meticulous technique.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent PTFJ instability necessitates specialized surgical considerations due to open physes.
• The described technique provides a method to address PTFJ instability while preserving physeal integrity and preventing complications.