Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report
Background: Isolated avulsion fractures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle are rare, with limited documented cases, especially in pediatric patients. The scarcity of evidence contributes to a significant gap in understanding the injury's mechanism and optimal management. While opera...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Orthopaedic Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773157X25000426 |
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| author | Stefan Ammann Reto Twerenbold Joel Locher |
| author_facet | Stefan Ammann Reto Twerenbold Joel Locher |
| author_sort | Stefan Ammann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Isolated avulsion fractures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle are rare, with limited documented cases, especially in pediatric patients. The scarcity of evidence contributes to a significant gap in understanding the injury's mechanism and optimal management. While operative management is preferred in multiligamentary injuries, both operative and conservative approaches have been described in the case of isolated injuries. Case report: We present a case involving a 12-year-old girl with a slightly dislocated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius sustained during recreational sports. The trauma mechanism involved knee flexion and a loaded knee with some rotational force. A conservative treatment strategy, including a temporary ban on sports activities and physiotherapy, led to a successful recovery, enabling the patient to return to recreational sports without pain at 10 weeks post-trauma. Conclusion: Isolated avulsion fractures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius, though rare, merit consideration, particularly in pediatric patients with a vulnerable bone component in the muscle–tendon–bone unit. Non-operative management, including activity limitation and physiotherapy, has demonstrated success in the pediatric population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8bd56d62cb4747ccb7444e801c42e275 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-157X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Orthopaedic Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-8bd56d62cb4747ccb7444e801c42e2752025-08-26T04:14:42ZengElsevierJournal of Orthopaedic Reports2773-157X2025-08-014210059010.1016/j.jorep.2025.100590Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case reportStefan Ammann0Reto Twerenbold1Joel Locher2Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Zuger Kantonsspital, Landhausstrasse 11, 6340, Baar, SwitzerlandDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Zuger Kantonsspital, Landhausstrasse 11, 6340, Baar, SwitzerlandCorresponding author.; Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Zuger Kantonsspital, Landhausstrasse 11, 6340, Baar, SwitzerlandBackground: Isolated avulsion fractures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle are rare, with limited documented cases, especially in pediatric patients. The scarcity of evidence contributes to a significant gap in understanding the injury's mechanism and optimal management. While operative management is preferred in multiligamentary injuries, both operative and conservative approaches have been described in the case of isolated injuries. Case report: We present a case involving a 12-year-old girl with a slightly dislocated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius sustained during recreational sports. The trauma mechanism involved knee flexion and a loaded knee with some rotational force. A conservative treatment strategy, including a temporary ban on sports activities and physiotherapy, led to a successful recovery, enabling the patient to return to recreational sports without pain at 10 weeks post-trauma. Conclusion: Isolated avulsion fractures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius, though rare, merit consideration, particularly in pediatric patients with a vulnerable bone component in the muscle–tendon–bone unit. Non-operative management, including activity limitation and physiotherapy, has demonstrated success in the pediatric population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773157X25000426Isolated avulsion medial gastrocnemiusMedial gastrocnemius avulsionMedial head gastrocnemius injury |
| spellingShingle | Stefan Ammann Reto Twerenbold Joel Locher Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report Journal of Orthopaedic Reports Isolated avulsion medial gastrocnemius Medial gastrocnemius avulsion Medial head gastrocnemius injury |
| title | Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report |
| title_full | Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report |
| title_fullStr | Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report |
| title_short | Isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient: A case report |
| title_sort | isolated avulsion fracture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in a pediatric patient a case report |
| topic | Isolated avulsion medial gastrocnemius Medial gastrocnemius avulsion Medial head gastrocnemius injury |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773157X25000426 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stefanammann isolatedavulsionfractureofthemedialheadofthegastrocnemiusinapediatricpatientacasereport AT retotwerenbold isolatedavulsionfractureofthemedialheadofthegastrocnemiusinapediatricpatientacasereport AT joellocher isolatedavulsionfractureofthemedialheadofthegastrocnemiusinapediatricpatientacasereport |