Spontaneous correction of partial physeal arrest: report of a case and review of the literature

J Pediatr Orthop B. 2012 Jul;21(4):369-72. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0b013e328347a42d.

Abstract

This study describes the rare phenomenon of partial physeal arrest spontaneous correction. It concerns a case of a 3.5-year-old girl who suffered from a Salter-Harris IV fracture of the distal tibial epiphysis, which was managed conservatively. After fracture healing an osseous bridge was formed at the medial part of the physis, leading to a varus deformity. The parents refused the operation, but 6 years later, both the ankle's deformity and the shortening of the extremity had been spontaneously corrected. It seems that the growth potential of the physis healthy portion is able to break the already transformed osseous bridge.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ankle Joint / abnormalities*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coxa Vara / etiology
  • Coxa Vara / pathology
  • Epiphyses / growth & development
  • Epiphyses / injuries*
  • Female
  • Fracture Healing*
  • Humans
  • Joint Deformities, Acquired / etiology
  • Joint Deformities, Acquired / pathology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Tibial Fractures / complications
  • Tibial Fractures / pathology*