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Acute fractures of the pediatric foot and ankle
Mansur Halai, Bilal Jamal, Paul Rea, Mobeen Qureshi, Anand Pillai
Glasgow, UK
Author Affiliations: Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, University Hospitials of South Manchester, Manchester M23 9LT, UK (Halai M, Jamal B, Rea P, Qureshi M, Pillai A)
Corresponding Author: Mansur Halai, MRCS, Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK (Email: mansurhalai@googlemail.com)
doi: 10.1007/s12519-015-0002-x
Background: Injuries around the foot and ankle are challenging. There is a paucity of literature, outside that of specialist orthopedic journals, that focuses on this subject in the pediatric population.
Data sources: In this review, we outline pediatric foot and ankle fractures in an anatomically oriented manner from the current literature. Our aim is to aid the emergency department doctor to manage these challenging injuries more effectively in the acute setting.
Results: These injuries require a detailed history and examination to aid the diagnosis. Often, plain radiographs are sufficient, but more complex injuries require the use of magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment is dependent on the proximity to skeletal maturity and the degree of displacement of fracture. Children have a marked ability to remodel after fractures and therefore mainstay treatment is immobilization by a cast or splint. Operative fixation, although uncommon in this population, may be necessary with adolescents, certain unstable injuries or in cases with displaced articular surface. In the setting of severe foot trauma, skin compromise and compartment syndrome of the foot must be excluded.
Conclusion: The integrity of the physis, articular surface and soft tissues are all equally important in treating these injuries.
World J Pediatr 2015;11(1):14-20
Key words: ankle;
foot;
fractures
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