The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 68, Issue 5 680-687, Copyright © 1986 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Spontaneous improvement of post-traumatic tibia valga
LE Zionts and GD MacEwen
We reviewed the cases of seven children with post-traumatic tibia valga in
order to determine whether spontaneous improvement of this deformity occurs
with growth. The children were between eleven months and six years and four
months old at the time of injury and were followed for an average of
thirty-nine months after the fracture. The valgus deformity appeared to
progress during the period of fracture-healing as well as after union of
the fracture, as determined clinically and radiographically. The angulation
progressed most rapidly during the first year after the injury, and then
continued at a slower rate for as long as seventeen months. Overgrowth of
the tibia by as much as 1.7 centimeters accompanied the angular deformity.
Adequate clinical correction then occurred spontaneously in six of the
seven patients. Because this spontaneous improvement of the deformity
usually occurred with growth, we recommend a conservative approach to the
management of both the acute fracture and the subsequent valgus deformity.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Technorati What's this?
