Ankle Dislocation Without Fracture in a Child
John M. Mazur, MD, Eric A. Loveless, MD, and R. Jay Cummings, MD
Dr. Mazur is Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Loveless is Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Dr. Cummings is Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.
Abstract not available. Introduction provided instead.
Ankle injuries in children are most commonly associated with fractures of the growth plates. Pure ankle dislocations without fracture are extremely rare, especially in children with open growth plates. The ankle joint is intrinsically stable, making an isolated ankle dislocation a rare injury. The ankle ligaments are mechanically stronger than the growth plates.1 A fracture through the growth plate is more likely to occur than a dislocation without an associated fracture. There have been only 2 other reports of an ankle dislocation without associated fracture in a child.2,3 Here we describe the case of a girl with a closed posterior dislocation of the ankle without fracture. We have obtained the informed consent of the patient whose case is described.