An open comminuted tibia fracture including a 5 cm tibial bone defect in a child: Successful management using a locking compression plate

Traumatic bone defects (TBDs), although rare in children, are severe injuries that often represents a challenge for both orthopaedic and trauma surgeons. We present a case of a 6-year-old girl who sustained an open (Gustilo-Anderson type II) comminuted tibia fracture including a ± 5.0 cm distal tibial TBD following a road traffic accident. Open reduction and internal fixation with a 3.5 Locking Compression Plate (LCP) without additional bone grafting was performed, followed by cast immobilization for four months. One and a half years after reconstruction, the patient regained pain-free activity including full-range of motion of her leg and radiographs showed good tibial and fibular alignment, the presence of fracture consolidation and sufficient filling of the TBD. This case report aims to show first evidence of the safety and efficacy of single LCP plating followed by cast immobilization applied in a paediatric patient with a large tibial TBD.