Abstract
An avulsion fracture occurs when the growth plate of an apophysis is injured due to
a sudden and forceful contraction of the attaching musculotendinous unit. Usually
it is adolescents who sustain these injuries, and a significant male preponderance
has been found. Even though apophyseal fractures have been described in a variety
of locations, the apophyses of the pelvis and hip are more prone to these injuries.
Due to their rarity, avulsion fractures of the pelvis are often misdiagnosed. Additionally,
patients can present late, and other pathologies are suspected initially. In most
acute cases conservative treatment is successful. However, some cases require operative
intervention. To plan an optimal treatment regimen, it is important to be familiar
with the typical pathomechanism, the typical clinical findings, and the most commonly
applied imaging modalities of these injures. The present review analyzes the currently
available literature on the most frequently encountered apophyseal injuries of the
pelvis in adolescent patients. Some case examples are also presented.
Keywords
avulsion fractures - apophyseal injury - adolescents - ischial tuberosity - spina
iliaca
