Ten cases of undisplaced proximal tibial metaphyseal fractures in children have been presented. In each patient a significant genu valgum developed at the fracture site. This deformity appears to progress during the healing of the fracture and the valgus may even increase after the limb is removed from the initial immobilization.
Correction may be spontaneous but, once the genu valgum has exceeded 15 degrees, growth and remodeling may not correct the deformity completely. Awareness and early treatment during the initial six months may avoid the need for surgery.
The treatment in this group of patients included a long brace in three with apparent accelerated correction, surgical osteotomy in three, and shoe correction and observation in four.
The physician treating this fracture should be alert to the possibility of overgrowth and valgus deformity and should advise the parents of this possible complication.