Premature Physeal Closure after a Non-Displaced Physeal Fracture of Distal Fibula

Premature physeal closure (PPC) may lead to clinically significant progressive angular deformity or leg length discrepancy. Many variables seem to play a role in determining which injuries result in PPC. A 8- year-old boy sustained a non-displaced physeal fracture of distal tibia and fibula. He showed no signs of PPC at 7 months post-injury. Seven years later, his ankle became painful. He had developed PPC of distal fibula causing angular ankle deformity, which was treated successfully by corrective osteotomy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a non-displaced fracture of the distal fibula leading to PPC several years after the initial injury, which in our understanding was impossible to predict.