Avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity in late adolescence

Between January 1982 and May 1985, eight patients with avulsion fractures of tibial tuberosity were seen at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. All were boys, average age, 15 years 8 months. Six of eight had a positive history of Osgood-Schlatter disease. Seven patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation, one had closed reduction and cast. Followup ranged from 5 months to 3.5 years, averaging 19.5 months. All, except one who had lateral meniscectomy, regained practically full ROM and reported no pain or limitation of activities. No patient developed genu recurvatum deformity or leg length discrepancy due to the injury. Open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice in displaced intra-articular fractures. Lateral parapatellar incision is a more direct approach to this fracture and is less likely to injure the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve.