Toddler's fracture

Toddler's fracture
Other names: Childhood accidental spiral tibial (CAST) fractures
A toddler's fracture
SpecialtyEmergency medicine, orthopedics
SymptomsPain in lower leg, limp[1]
Usual onset9 mths to 3 yrs[1]
Duration3 to 4 wks[1]
CausesLow energy injury[1]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms and examination, supported by X-rays[1]
Differential diagnosisTransient synovitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, other types of fractures[1]
TreatmentSplinting, casting, no immobilization[1]
PrognosisGood[1]
FrequencyRelatively common[1]

Toddler's fracture is a type of broken bone that involves the lower part of the shin bone (tibia).[1] Symptoms may include pain in the lower leg or a limp.[1] Some refuse to walk at all.[2]

The cause is often a twisting motion over a planted foot.[1] This may occur as the result tripping or other minor events.[1] It generally occurs in the distal thirds of the tibia, is undisplaced, and has a spiral pattern.[1] Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and examination, with initial X-rays appearing normal in about half of cases.[1]

Treatment is often by limiting movement of the affected leg by splinting or casting for 3 to 4 weeks.[1] Casting may occur above or below the knee.[1] Some just allow healing without immobilization.[1] Outcomes are nearly always good.[1]

Toddler's fracture is relatively common, making up about 1.5 per thousand visits by children to the emergency department.[1] It most commonly occurs in people between the age of 9 months and 3 years.[1] It was first described in 1964 by Dunbar.[3][4] There were previously concerns of an association with non accidental trauma; however, this is very rarely present.[5]

Signs and symptoms

Typical symptoms include pain, refusing to walk or bear weight and limping -bruising and deformity are absent. On examination, there can be warmth and swelling over the fracture area, as well as pain on bending the foot upwards.[6]

Pathophysiology

The proposed mechanism involves shear stress and lack of displacement due to the periosteum that is relatively strong compared to the elastic bone in young children.[7]

Diagnosis

The initial radiographical images may be inconspicuous (a faint oblique line) and often even completely normal.[6] After 1–2 weeks however, callus formation develops.

The condition can be mistaken for osteomyelitis, transient synovitis or even child abuse. Contrary to CAST fractures, non-accidental injury typically affect the upper two-thirds or midshaft of the tibia.

Other possible fractures in this area, occurring in the cuboid, calcaneus, and fibula, can be associated or can be mistaken for a toddler's fracture.[8] In some cases, an internal oblique radiography and radionuclide imaging can add information to anterior-posterior and lateral views.[9][10] However, since treatment can also be initiated in the absence of abnormalities, this appears to have little value in most cases. It could be useful in special cases such as children with fever, those without a clear trauma or those in which the diagnosis remains unclear.[6][11] Ultrasound has also been suggested as a helpful diagnostic tool.[12]

  • Accidental or innocent toddler fracture/frontal
    Accidental or innocent toddler fracture/frontal
  • Accidental or innocent toddler fracture/lateral
    Accidental or innocent toddler fracture/lateral

Treatment

Treatment consist of a long leg orthopedic cast for several weeks.[6]

History

The condition was first recognized by Dunbar and co-workers in 1964.[4] A new terminology has been proposed, which defines toddler's fracture as a subset of childhood accidental spiral tibial (CAST) fractures.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Wang, Y; Doyle, M; Smit, K; Varshney, T; Carsen, S (1 January 2022). "The Toddler's Fracture". Pediatric emergency care. 38 (1): 36–39. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000002600. PMID 34986580.
  2. ↑ Vezzetti, R; Bordoni, B (January 2022). "Antalgic Gait In Children". PMID 30571006. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ↑ Martino, Fabio; Defilippi, Claudio; Caudana, Roberto (26 June 2011). Imaging of Pediatric Bone and Joint Trauma. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 183. ISBN 978-88-470-1655-2. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 Dunbar JS, Owen HF, Nogrady MB, McLeese R (September 1964). "Obscure tibial fracture of infants -- the toddler's fracture". J Can Assoc Radiol. 15: 136–44. PMID 14212071.
  5. ↑ Gaillard, Frank. "Toddler fracture | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org". Radiopaedia. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Halsey MF, Finzel KC, Carrion WV, Haralabatos SS, Gruber MA, Meinhard BP (2001). "Toddler's fracture: presumptive diagnosis and treatment". J Pediatr Orthop. 21 (2): 152–6. doi:10.1097/00004694-200103000-00003. PMID 11242240.
  7. ↑ Sarmah A (April 1995). "'Toddler's fracture'? A recognised entity". Arch. Dis. Child. 72 (4): 376. doi:10.1136/adc.72.4.376-a. PMC 1511261. PMID 7763080.
  8. ↑ Donnelly LF (September 2000). "Toddler's fracture of the fibula". AJR Am J Roentgenol. 175 (3): 922. doi:10.2214/ajr.175.3.1750922. PMID 10954515.
  9. ↑ De Boeck K, Van Eldere S, De Vos P, Mortelmans L, Casteels-Van Daele M (January 1991). "Radionuclide bone imaging in toddler's fracture". Eur. J. Pediatr. 150 (3): 166–9. doi:10.1007/BF01963558. PMID 2044585. S2CID 11284378.
  10. ↑ John SD, Moorthy CS, Swischuk LE (1997). "Expanding the concept of the toddler's fracture". Radiographics. 17 (2): 367–76. doi:10.1148/radiographics.17.2.9084078. PMID 9084078.
  11. ↑ Miller JH, Sanderson RA (December 1988). "Scintigraphy of toddler's fracture". J. Nucl. Med. 29 (12): 2001–3. PMID 3193212. Archived from the original on 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  12. ↑ Lewis D, Logan P (May 2006). "Sonographic diagnosis of toddler's fracture in the emergency department". J Clin Ultrasound. 34 (4): 190–4. doi:10.1002/jcu.20192. PMID 16615049.
  13. ↑ Mellick LB, Milker L, Egsieker E (October 1999). "Childhood accidental spiral tibial (CAST) fractures". Pediatr Emerg Care. 15 (5): 307–9. doi:10.1097/00006565-199910000-00001. PMID 10532655.
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