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Case Eighteen - Tillaux Fracture

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Clinical History: 20-year-old woman sustained ankle trauma.

Findings: AP and mortise view of the ankle demonstrate a fracture of the anterior tubercle of the tibia. There are no other fractures.

Diagnosis: Tillaux Fracture.

Discussion: Anterior tubercle of the tibia avulses because of tension placed upon it by anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. The mechanism of injury is external rotation of the foot. This fracture can be isolated or be seen with fractures of the malleoli. This fracture should not be confused with the juvenile Tillaux fracture which is a Salter-Harris type III fracture of the distal tibial epiphysis.

References:
Rogers LF. Radiology of Skeletal Trauma. Churchill Livingstone. 1992; Volume 2.

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Submitted by:
James M. Lieberman, M.D.