The juvenile fracture of Tillaux

The juvenile fracture of Tillaux is an ankle joint avulsion fracture of the anterior distal tibial tubercle in adolescents, produced by external rotation force applied to the foot. Data from five patients with the juvenile fracture of Tillaux were reviewed. In four of the patients, an initial closed reduction was unsuccessful and had to be followed by open reduction and internal fixation of the displaced fragment. The fifth patient's treatment was nonoperative. All patients had an excellent functional and radiographic result at follow-up evaluation one to nine years after the injury. Results were compared with data from five major series of patients who had sustained this fracture. Nonoperative treatment was indicated for the undisplaced fractures but may give less than optimal results in initially displaced fractures. In cases where there was displacement of the fragment after closed reduction, open reduction and internal fixation of the displaced fracture gave excellent functional result.