Introduction: Distal tibia fractures are a common cause of physeal injuries that can subsequently cause deformity in pediatric populations. Limited literature exists supporting treatment strategies for varus deformities. In this study, we illustrate a unique case of premature physeal closure complicated by development of a varus ankle deformity treated with navigation guided physeal bar resection that spontaneously resolved without the requirement for guided growth.
Case report: A 6-year-old female presented to our clinic after development of a right ankle varus deformity measuring 14°. She had sustained a right Salter Harris type 3 distal tibia fracture 10 months prior and underwent fixation at an external facility. After undergoing navigation guided physeal bar resection, resolution of her deformity occurred without the use of guided growth.
Conclusion: Spontaneous resolution of an ankle deformity is possible after a physeal bar resection. However, in these technically demanding procedures, it is important to optimize accuracy and results using preoperative bar mapping and intraoperative three-dimensional navigation.
Keywords: Varus ankle; bar resection; case report; guided growth; spontaneous resolution.
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