Treatment of Nonunions After Malleolar Fractures

Intramedullary Nail Fixation for the Treatment of Symptomatic Fibular Nonunion: A Case Series

Ankle fractures are a relatively common injury in the lower extremity. They can be treated with conservative management if they are nondisplaced and only involve the fibula. Nonunions at the fracture site, however, are a potential complicating factor during treatment. There is growing literature supporting the use of intramedullary fixation for fracture care. Not only does it have the advantages of using smaller incisions to preserve periosteum while providing improved biomechanical outcomes, but intramedullary reaming can help stimulate cells to promote bone healing. Few articles discuss the use and success of intramedullary reaming in revision surgery of the distal fibula. We present 3 cases of computed tomography-confirmed fibular nonunion following conservative fracture care, which underwent revision surgery with fibular nail fixation technique. These cases illustrate clinical and image findings as well as highlight the surgical technique used for each patient. At follow-up, all patients were asymptomatic and radiographs confirmed healing of the previous nonunion site. These cases are examples of successful revision for fibular fracture nonunion using intramedullary nail fixation.Level of Evidence: Level IV: Case series.

Predicting Nonunions in Ankle Fractures Using Quantitative Tibial Hounsfield Samples From Preoperative Computed Tomography: A Multicenter Matched Case Control Study

The aim of this study is to use tibial Hounsfield unit measurements from preoperative computed tomography scans of ankle fractures to predict delayed union and nonunion. We hypothesize that patients with lower Hounsfield unit averages, an indirect measure of lower bone mineral density, in the distal tibia are more likely to develop delayed union and nonunion complications after ankle fracture surgery. Patient data from January 2010 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed from 2 institutions. Exposure cases of delayed union or nonunion that had preoperative computed tomography were compared to 5 controls matched for sex, age, and classification. 3 measurements were taken from the tibia on axial computed tomography and averaged to create a summative measure for overall bone health. Statistical analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the groups. 19 exposure patients were compared to 95 control patients. There were 16 females and 3 males in the exposure group aged from 30 to 88 years. Average follow-up was 1.6 years. The average exposure and control Hounsfield measurements were 186 (161-210) and 258 (248-269), respectively. Significant differences were found for all measured averages. This is the first study to our knowledge relating preoperative tibial Hounsfield measurements to healing rates of ankle fractures. Measurements taken from any of the 3 sites or the average could be an indicator of overall bone health. Using this technique on preoperative imaging will help surgeons adjust their perioperative planning for patients at higher risk for delayed union and nonunion.

Postoperative aspirin use and its effect on bone healing in the treatment of ankle fractures

BACKGROUND

There is hesitancy to administer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) within the postoperative period following fracture care due to concern for delayed union or nonunion. However, aspirin (ASA) is routinely used for chemoprophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is gaining popularity for use after treatment of ankle fractures. The current study examines the incidence of nonunion of operative ankle fractures and risk of DVT in patients who did and did not receive postoperative ASA.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients treated between 2008 and 2018 for ankle fractures requiring operative fixation by three Foot and Ankle fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeons at a single institution. Demographics, preoperative comorbidities, and postoperative medical and surgical complications were compared between patients who did and did not receive ASA postoperatively. For both groups, union was evaluated by clinical exam as well as by radiograph, for those with 6-week, 12-week, or 24-week follow-up.

RESULTS

Five-hundred and six patients met inclusion criteria: 152 who received ASA and 354 who did not. Radiographic healing at six weeks was demonstrated in 95.9% (94/98) and 98.6% (207/210) respectively (p-value .2134). There was no significant difference in time to radiographic union between groups. The risk of postoperative DVTs in those with and without ASA was not significantly different (0.7% (1/137) vs 1.2% (4/323), respectively; p-value .6305).

CONCLUSION

Postoperative use of ASA does not delay radiographic union of operative ankle fractures or affect the rate of postoperative DVT. This is the first and largest study to examine the effect of ASA on time to union of ankle fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Percutaneous screw fixation for painful non-union of lateral malleolus ankle fractures

INTRODUCTION

Lateral malleolus non-union can cause pain and loss of function. Standard treatment involves open approach with debridement, bone-grafting and plate stabilisation, with published surgical site infection rates to 17%. To minimise the risk of soft tissue complications and allow early mobilisation, we describe a technique for percutaneous cannulated screw stabilisation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective case review for all percutaneous lateral malleolus non-union stabilisation procedures undertaken in our hospital between 2011 and 2017 was performed. Fracture union was diagnosed by resolution of pain and swelling, with a return to full weight-bearing mobilisation and two-view radiographs consistent with union.

RESULTS

Twelve cases were reviewed. All fractures united. There was one superficial wound infection treated with oral antibiotics, and one early case with drill-piece fracture requiring conversion to open procedure with plate stabilisation.

CONCLUSION

We believe this to be the first report of percutaneous stabilisation for non-union of lateral malleolus fractures. We demonstrate this to be a safe and effective technique.

Tension Band Wiring Is As Effective As A Compression Screw In A Neglected, Medial Maleolus Non-Union: A Case-Based Discussion & Literature Review

Introduction:

Isolated, neglected medial malleolus nonunion cases are a rare entity in orthopedic literature. All studies (except one) have described the use of compression screws (with or without plates) for medial malleolar nonunion management. In acute fractures, tension band wiring (TBW) has shown excellent results both in biomechanical and in clinical studies. On the contrary, it has seldom been used in nonunion or in neglected cases.

Case Report:

We describe a 6-month-old neglected medial malleolus gap nonunion case who presented with progressive pain and limp. TBW with a monoblock, inlay, tricortical, and iliac crest bone graft for the defect was performed. The fracture united within 12 weeks and patient went back to his normal work routine; on the latest follow-up at 3 years, the patient was asymptomatic with no clinicoradiologic signs of secondary osteoarthritis of the ankle joint.

Conclusion:

TBW may be better than screw fixation in the management of medial malleolus nonunion as it is technically straightforward and cost-effective, can provide equal or more compression than a screw; it does not damage the sandwiched inlay bone graft, and the amount of compression is surgeon-controlled. It is also more suitable for fractures with small distal fragments and/or osteoporosis.