Spontaneous improvement of post-traumatic tibia valga.

We reviewed the cases of seven children with post-traumatic tibia valga in order to determine whether spontaneous improvement of this deformity occurs with growth. The children were between eleven months and six years and four months old at the time of injury and were followed for an average of thirty-nine months after the fracture. The valgus deformity appeared to progress during the period of fracture-healing as well as after union of the fracture, as determined clinically and radiographically. The angulation progressed most rapidly during the first year after the injury, and then continued at a slower rate for as long as seventeen months. Overgrowth of the tibia by as much as 1.7 centimeters accompanied the angular deformity. Adequate clinical correction then occurred spontaneously in six of the seven patients. Because this spontaneous improvement of the deformity usually occurred with growth, we recommend a conservative approach to the management of both the acute fracture and the subsequent valgus deformity.