[Tibial fractures in children (author's transl)]

In a collective study of 22 surgical clinics 1235 closed diaphyseal tibial fractures in children from 0 to 14 years were analysed. The incidence of this type of fracture in relation to all fractures in childhood, was 6.2%. In pre-school children isolated tibial fractures and incomplete fractures predominated, while in children from 6 to 14 years tibial plus fibular fractures as well as displaced fractures occurred more frequently. Closed reduction and plaster cast were used as standard treatment. Traction was used only exceptionally. In only 3.0% osteosynthesis was performed under the following indications: irreducible fracture, multiple fractures, concomitant chest or abdominal injury, polytrauma.