Two cases of missed Salter-Harris III coronal plane fracture of the lateral femoral condyle.

Coronal plane fractures of the lateral femoral condyle can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children with open physis. Two adolescents who sustained this uncommon Salter-Harris III fracture of the knee were misdiagnosed after initial clinical examination and standard x-rays. Oblique x-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were valuable in arriving at the correct diagnosis and in decision making.