The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Jun 1985
Classification, diagnosis, and treatment of transitional fractures of the distal part of the tibia.
I studied the anatomical relationships in thirty-two transitional fractures of the distal part of the tibia by standard radiography and in thirteen of these patients by computerized axial tomography. Three different configurations of fractures could be identified: biplane fractures and two different types of triplane fractures (Type I and Type II). In the biplane lesion the fracture is restricted to the epiphysis, while the triplane fractures are characterized by a wedge of metaphyseal bone. ⋯ However, the evaluation of undisplaced or only slightly displaced Type-II triplane fractures will still occasionally require the use of computerized axial tomography. Displaced transitional fractures with a fracture gap of more than two millimeters in the weight-bearing portion of the epiphysis require open reduction. If the gap is less than two millimeters, non-operative treatment with a plaster cast is sufficient.