# Tillaux Fracture in an Adolescent Patient: A Case Report

**Authors:** María Mercedes Medina Villate, Alberto Daniel Navarro Vergara

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.98994 · Cureus · 2025-12-11

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare Tillaux fracture in a 14-year-old girl and highlights the importance of surgical treatment for optimal recovery.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare clinical case of a Tillaux fracture in an adolescent and emphasizes the effectiveness of surgical intervention.

## Key findings

- Tillaux fractures are rare in adolescents and often require surgical treatment.
- A percutaneous fixation technique with a single cannulated screw was successfully used in this case.
- Early hospital presentation and accurate diagnosis are crucial for minimizing complications.

## Abstract

Tillaux fractures are infrequent adolescent fractures that are rarely covered in the clinical literature. They are intra-articular fractures that are more frequent in children than adults, more commonly seen in women. The treatment is operative, and the mini-open technique is a technique that we should consider using. This article presents the case of a 14-year-old girl who suffered a fall from height with twisting trauma to her left ankle. On physical examination, the affected limb showed pain and functional limitation, with palpable distal pulses, adequate capillary refill, and no motor or sensory deficits. An X-ray was made, and a Tillaux fracture was found. She was immediately immobilized with a splint, and once the CT images were obtained, surgical management was planned. An operative approach was selected, consisting of closed reduction and percutaneous fixation with a single cannulated screw. It is essential for orthopedic surgeons to accurately recognize this type of fracture to ensure appropriate diagnosis and optimal treatment outcomes. The article highlights the importance of surgical intervention in these rare fractures in a specific age range and demonstrates the favorable outcomes of surgical treatment using a percutaneous technique. It also emphasizes that early presentation to the hospital plays a crucial role in minimizing the risk of complications.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** motor or sensory deficits (MESH:D001289), fracture (MESH:D050723), pain and functional limitation (MESH:D010146), trauma (MESH:D014947), Tillaux Fracture (MESH:D013978)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791173/full.md

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791173/full.md

## References

21 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791173/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791173