Fractures about the knee in children.

The seriousness of the consequences of growth and angular disturbances about the knee that occur as a result of injuries in childhood cannot be overemphasized. The resulting limb length discrepancy is well known to the office practitioner, who sees these patients presenting with back problems during adulthood. Normal knee motion and stability are prime prerequisites for normal gait, and loss of knee motion as a determinant of gait can increase the energy requirement up to 300-fold. The management of these injuries presented has produced good results for the author. The author strongly recommends careful follow-up in metaphyseal fractures to guard against the development of angular deformities, the anatomical reduction of all intra-articular fractures, and x-ray examination of the hip in patients in the four to 15 year age group who have sustained minimal or insignificant trauma and who complain of pain about the knee.