Khoury Joseph G, Morcuende Jose A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Iowa Orthop J. 2002;22:94-8.
We present five cases of dramatic subperiosteal bone formation following fracture of the distal femoral physis in children with myelomeningocele. These fractures often go unrecognized due to lack of displacement and/or pain. Children present with a swollen, warm extremity and often systemic signs of inflammation, but rarely any pain or history of trauma. The dramatic radiographic appearance can cause a diagnostic dilemma. We present these cases in order to familiarize the clinician with the oftentimes dramatic appearance of this injury.