Tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture

Changed by Andrew Murphy, 22 Nov 2017

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Show markup changes

Tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures are uncommon and usually associated with sports activities that require jumping. Avulsion occurs with the violent active extension of the knee or passive flexion against contracted quadriceps muscles.

Although an acute injury, tibial tuberosity avulsion is most frequently seen in young adolescents with ongoing Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Pathology

Classification

The Watson-Jones classification is used to grade tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures:

type 1: avulsion of the apophysis without injury to the tibial epiphysis
type 2: epiphysis is lifted cephalad and incompletely fractured
type 3: displacement of the proximal base of the epiphysis with the fracture line extending into the joint

-<p><strong>Tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures</strong> are uncommon and usually associated with sports activities that require jumping. Avulsion occurs with violent active extension of the knee or passive flexion against contracted <a href="/articles/quadriceps-muscles">quadriceps</a> muscles.</p><p>Although an acute injury, tibial tuberosity avulsion is most frequently seen in young adolescents with ongoing <a href="/articles/osgood-schlatter-disease">Osgood-Schlatter disease</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Classification</h5><p>The <a href="/articles/watson-jones-classification">Watson-Jones classification</a> is used to grade tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures:</p><ul>
+<p><strong>Tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures</strong> are uncommon and usually associated with sports activities that require jumping. Avulsion occurs with the violent active extension of the knee or passive flexion against contracted <a href="/articles/quadriceps-muscles">quadriceps</a> muscles.</p><p>Although an acute injury, tibial tuberosity avulsion is most frequently seen in young adolescents with ongoing <a href="/articles/osgood-schlatter-disease">Osgood-Schlatter disease</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Classification</h5><p>The <a href="/articles/watson-jones-classification">Watson-Jones classification</a> is used to grade tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures:</p><ul>

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

{"current_user":null,"inclusions":[{"imageId":581184,"studyId":12385,"caseSlug":"tibial-tuberosity-avulsion-fracture","caption":" Case 1","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/581184/2e4f5da5aabb5ba1288b624a70f6dc_big_gallery.jpg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":39809444,"studyId":68759,"caseSlug":"tibial-tuberosity-avulsion-fracture-1","caption":"Case 2","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/39809444/2afe50e2164ffbca0f6a1c689e4a5a_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":40611769,"studyId":69551,"caseSlug":"tibial-tuberosity-avulsion-fracture-2","caption":"Case 3","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/40611769/396ba90a7ed31e69a94e621a7a6404_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":41711650,"studyId":70394,"caseSlug":"tibial-tuberosity-avulsion-fracture-3","caption":"Case 4","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/41711650/aad4a541e823a9a69a2be66a2d4920_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_unsubstantiated"},{"imageId":55503824,"studyId":109199,"caseSlug":"tibial-tuberosity-avulsion-fracture-4","caption":"Case 5","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/55503824/0._big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":59667957,"studyId":126598,"caseSlug":"tibial-tuberosity-avulsion-fracture-5","caption":"Case 6","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/59667957/6609cd3a9f8b69a261ea815af3846aa7727329987bc0bfadd4e5cf31158421a9_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":62616465,"studyId":137871,"caseSlug":"salter-harris-type-ii-fracture-12","caption":"Case 7: Type IV","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/62616465/5a09ae8682c9e87f1efc1f4152caa036797765cf87ab487832b6dedced6b5eb0_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"}],"ddx_inclusions":[{"imageId":51667771,"studyId":82133,"caseSlug":"unfused-tibial-tubercle","caption":"Unfused tibial tubercle","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/51667771/2e68244612be5a62de0fff71957d9b_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"probable"}],"lang":"us"}

Updating… Please wait.

Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

Thank you for updating your details.

Tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture

Updates to Article Attributes

Pathology

Classification

See also

Articles

By Section:

By System:

Cases

Radiopaedia.org