Abstract
Despite the frequent exposure of the knee in children to violent trauma, the incidence of
fracture of the proximal tibial epiphysis is extremely low, accounting for about 0.5 per cent of
all epiphyseal injuries. This is due to its freedom from collateral ligament attachments and
therefore the frequent varus and valgus stresses to the knee are transmitted not to the epiphysis
but rather to the metaphysis distal to it. Closed reduction and external immobilization is
adequate treatment for most type - I or 3 fractures. Patients with displaced type - III or IV
fractures undergo open reduction and internal fixation when there was significant displacement
of the fragments or incongruity of the joint.
The authors reviewed a case of Salter-Harris type II injury of proximal tibial epiphysis which
required open reduction and internal fixation because it had the insertion spread of the
periosteum into the separation site.