Abstract
Our intent is to review pediatric tibial eminence fractures treated at a Level I Trauma
Center and to note the incidence of associated knee pathology. All pediatric patients
treated operatively for a tibial eminence fracture over a 10-year period were identified.
A chart review was performed to identify patient demographics, injury pattern, presence
of associated pathology, and magnetchic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. In our series
of 20 pediatric tibial eminence fractures, 6 patients had associated meniscal tears.
Meniscal tears occurred more commonly in type III injuries (5 of 13) than type II
injuries (1 of 6). Two patients sustained associated ligamentous injury; there were
no patients with associated chondral defects. A displaced pediatric tibial eminence
fracture is a relatively infrequent injury. The incidence of associated meniscal injury
in our study was 30%, and associated ligamentous injury was uncommon. Arthroscopic
evaluation before definitive treatment of displaced tibial eminence fractures should
be considered given the associated incidence of meniscal tears. MRI does not appear
to provide additional information if arthroscopic treatment is pursued. This study
is level IV, case series.
Keywords
tibial eminence fracture - meniscus tear
