Growth arrest of the distal radius following a metaphyseal fracture: Case report and review of the literature

We report a 12-year-old girl who developed growth arrest of the distal radius physis 9 months after sustaining a complete fracture of the distal radial and ulnar metaphysis with no involvement of the physis evident at time of injury. The girl sustained a fracture of the metaphysis of her right distal radius and ulna after a fall. Anterior-posterior, lateral and oblique radiographs at injury, and during subsequent heating show no evidence of the fracture involving the physis. She was treated with closed reduction and casting for 6 weeks and healed uneventfully. She returned 4 month later concerned about distal ulnar prominence. Radiographs revealed a loss of radial tilt and with suspicion of a physeal bar. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a physeal bar located in the dorsal radial region. A literature search of the Medline database was used to obtain prior case reports for review purpose. The patient underwent an epiphysiodesis of the distal radius and ulna along with an opening wedge osteotomy and bone grafting of the distal radius to restore radial height and inclination. She healed without complication and with restoration of the normal relationship of the distal radius and ulna. A review of the literature reveals five reported case of distal radial metaphyseal fractures not invloving the physis leading to growth arrest. By comparison, there are 31 reported cases of distal radius physcal arrest following fractures involving the physis. The physician should be aware that common distal radius metaphyseal fractures may rarely lead to growth arrest. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.