Proximal tibia and fibula fractures associated with PCL avulsion in an adult with post polio residual paralysis - A case report

Abstract

Background: Poliomyelitis, widely referred to as polio, is a highly contagious viral infectious disease induced by an enterovirus that mainly impacts the neurological system and results in lower limb disabilities. This case study describes an unusual combination of proximal tibia-fibular fractures and an avulsion fracture of tibial attachment of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in a patient with poliomyelitis. Case report: A 48-year-old man presented to our emergency department with complaints of pain, swelling, and inability to walk on his right leg following a fall. The patient underwent two separate open reduction and internal fixation approaches to address these significant injuries with the proper fixations. 9-months postoperatively, the patient recovered uneventfully without any complications. Conclusion: This uncommon combination of triad fractures should be recognized and addressed promptly, particularly in patients with a history of lower limb poliomyelitis. This unusual variety of unstable fractures poses unique surgical challenges that have not previously been reported in the literature for this type of injury.

Keywords

• Poliomyelitis
• Tibia
• Fibula
• PCL
• Fracture
• Case report