This elderly patient lost her balance and fell off a step ladder and landed with force (violently) and hence sustained the tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture. She underwent open reduction and internal fixation a few days later and had an unremarkable post-operative period.

Tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture injuries are rare injuries often sustained during landing from a jump or jumping from a fixed foot. Basketball is the most common sporting activity during which these types of avulsion injuries are sustained. Theoretically, any sporting activity that requires jumping/ landing may represent a source of the mechanism of injury including parachuting, hand gliding, jumping sports(triple jump, long jump, pole vaulting, high jump) etc.