Medial meniscus interposition in proximal tibial epiphyseal fracture: a case report and review of the literature.

Proximal tibial fractures are rare in children, and most are treated conservatively. We report a case of a minimally displaced proximal tibial epiphyseal injury (Salter-Harris type III) in an 11-year-old child. We initially thought to treat this fracture conservatively, but the presence of massive haemarthrosis and considerable pain made us choose arthroscopy under general anaesthetic. During examination under anesthesia no instability could be detected, but the knee was locked in 5 degrees of flexion. On screening the fracture was not reducible anatomically. At arthroscopy the medial meniscus was not visualised as it was displaced into the fracture site. A small medial arthrotomy showed the meniscus trapped in the fracture site without any avulsion in the anterior or posterior horns. The fracture easily reduced once the meniscus was levered out. The importance of this injury is the fact that it could have been easily missed and would have led to serious functional deficit of the knee joint. We present radiographs and intra-operative pictures of this interesting injury.