TIBIAL DIAPHYSEAL FRACTURES IN CHILDREN

Tibial diaphyseal fractures in children and adolescents are relatively common injuries and often evolve with good results when treated through traditional methods of conservative treatment. Their elevated frequency is due to the high degree of exposure of children in physical activities and also to the topographic location, exposing them to direct or indirect trauma. The approach used should consider and respect some features regarding age, place of affection (whether proximal or distal), type of fracture and therapy. The anatomical advantage of a thicker periosteum and flexibility when submitted to angular impacts can provide younger children with greater stability and, consequently, increases their chances of a better prognosis than older children and adolescents. In the latter, the degree of exposure to high-energy trauma and the greater complexity and severity of injuries have caused the recent trend towards stabilization surgery to become more common. Frequent complications in the evolution of fractures in adults such as infection, delayed union and nonunion are much less common in children, although the risk of occurrence of compartment syndrome is an event that requires attention, especially with plaster.