Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Ankle physeal fractures are a significant concern in paediatric populations due to their potential to cause growth disturbances, including premature physeal closure. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiology and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children treated...

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Main Authors: Silvia Valisena, Giacomo De Marco, Oscar Vazquez, Anne Tabard-Fougère, Nastassia Guanziroli-Pralong, Christina Steiger-Tuc, Romain Olivier Dayer, Dimitri Ceroni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) 2025-05-01
Series:Swiss Medical Weekly
Online Access:https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/4265
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author Silvia Valisena
Giacomo De Marco
Oscar Vazquez
Anne Tabard-Fougère
Nastassia Guanziroli-Pralong
Christina Steiger-Tuc
Romain Olivier Dayer
Dimitri Ceroni
author_facet Silvia Valisena
Giacomo De Marco
Oscar Vazquez
Anne Tabard-Fougère
Nastassia Guanziroli-Pralong
Christina Steiger-Tuc
Romain Olivier Dayer
Dimitri Ceroni
author_sort Silvia Valisena
collection DOAJ
description INTRODUCTION: Ankle physeal fractures are a significant concern in paediatric populations due to their potential to cause growth disturbances, including premature physeal closure. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiology and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children treated at a single university hospital centre in Switzerland over a 19-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included children aged 0 to 16 years who were admitted to our institution for an ankle physeal fracture between January 2004 and April 2023. Demographic and radiological data were collected, and fractures were classified according to the Salter-Harris and Dias-Tachdjian classifications. Statistical analyses, including Fisher’s exact test, were performed for dichotomous outcomes, with significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: We included 259 patients with a mean age of 12.3 years old, mostly males (58.7%), with most fractures occurring among boys aged 14 and girls aged 12. Sports-related activities accounted for 51% of fractures, with the highest incidence in autumn. Isolated fractures of the distal tibia were most common (47.1%), and Salter-Harris type II fractures represented 51% of cases (p <0.05). The predominant mechanism of injury was supination–plantar flexion (33.6%). CONCLUSION: This study provided a comprehensive overview of the distribution and patterns of paediatric ankle physeal fractures. It underscored the need for future prospective multicentre studies to explore causative factors and outcomes related to growth disturbances. Targeted prevention and management strategies may help mitigate the incidence and consequences of these injuries.
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spelling doaj-art-afdcd6e3e31f400eae46e3e1db7f37c32025-08-20T03:49:18ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972025-05-01155510.57187/s.4265Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort studySilvia Valisena0Giacomo De MarcoOscar VazquezAnne Tabard-FougèreNastassia Guanziroli-PralongChristina Steiger-TucRomain Olivier DayerDimitri CeroniHUG INTRODUCTION: Ankle physeal fractures are a significant concern in paediatric populations due to their potential to cause growth disturbances, including premature physeal closure. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiology and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children treated at a single university hospital centre in Switzerland over a 19-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included children aged 0 to 16 years who were admitted to our institution for an ankle physeal fracture between January 2004 and April 2023. Demographic and radiological data were collected, and fractures were classified according to the Salter-Harris and Dias-Tachdjian classifications. Statistical analyses, including Fisher’s exact test, were performed for dichotomous outcomes, with significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: We included 259 patients with a mean age of 12.3 years old, mostly males (58.7%), with most fractures occurring among boys aged 14 and girls aged 12. Sports-related activities accounted for 51% of fractures, with the highest incidence in autumn. Isolated fractures of the distal tibia were most common (47.1%), and Salter-Harris type II fractures represented 51% of cases (p <0.05). The predominant mechanism of injury was supination–plantar flexion (33.6%). CONCLUSION: This study provided a comprehensive overview of the distribution and patterns of paediatric ankle physeal fractures. It underscored the need for future prospective multicentre studies to explore causative factors and outcomes related to growth disturbances. Targeted prevention and management strategies may help mitigate the incidence and consequences of these injuries. https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/4265
spellingShingle Silvia Valisena
Giacomo De Marco
Oscar Vazquez
Anne Tabard-Fougère
Nastassia Guanziroli-Pralong
Christina Steiger-Tuc
Romain Olivier Dayer
Dimitri Ceroni
Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study
Swiss Medical Weekly
title Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study
title_full Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study
title_short Demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children: a retrospective cohort study
title_sort demographic distribution and injury patterns of ankle physeal fractures in children a retrospective cohort study
url https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/4265
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