Thirty-year follow-up of ankle fractures

Distal Fibula Fractures-Intramedullary Fixation Versus Plating: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Control Trials

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study is to compare the functional scores and complications of intramedullary fixation versus plate osteosynthesis of distal fibular fractures in adults.

METHODS

Study was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses format from MEDLINE, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane databases. The included articles were assessed according to the risk of bias assessment tool by Cochrane collaboration.

RESULTS

A total of 5 randomized control trials were included for quantitative review. Random sequence generation and allocation concealment of the study subjects were the strengths of all the included studies. There was high heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 > 75%). There was no significant difference between the Olerud-Molander scores in both the groups but the trend favored the intramedullary nailing of distal fibula (mean difference of 3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] of 8.90). Complications were significantly lesser in the intramedullary group across the studies (odds ratio 0.26, 95% CI of 0.81).

CONCLUSION

Intramedullary nailing of fibula with the use of modern locking fibular nails is an alternative to fibular plating for unstable distal fibular fractures in properly selected cases. There remains the need for standardizing the method of operative treatment of distal fibular fractures which can be done by a well-planned large-scale prospective study design.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 1.

The additional value of weight-bearing radiographs in assessing stability of isolated type B fibular fractures

INTRODUCTION

In isolated type B fibular fractures, the decision whether to operate or treat conservatively is principally based on congruency and stability of the ankle joint. The purpose of the current study is to examine the additional diagnostic value of the weight-bearing radiograph (WBR) in assessing stability of potentially unstable type B fibular fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, patients were selected based on who presented an isolated type B fracture of the fibula. Unstable fractures were directly planned for surgery. Other patients underwent additional weight-bearing imaging 4-7 days after initial trauma, on which definitive treatment was based. The medial clear space (MCS) was compared between the WBR and the conventional radiograph.

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients were included in the period January 2018-December 2021. The average MCS on conventional mortise radiograph was 3.56 mm compared to 3.02 mm on the WBR(p<0.05). The superior clear space (SCS) was equal between both groups (respectively 3.12 mm and 3.08 mm, p = 0.44). All 70 patients were initially treated conservatively with immediate weight-bearing in a brace or soft cast. One patient had the need for open repair and internal fixation due to non-union.

DISCUSSION

Different techniques for the assessment of deep deltoid ligament integrity exist, such as the MRI, the ultrasonography and different kinds of stress test radiographs. As fractured ankles don't need direct fixation and operative treatment can be postponed, a stepped approach for the assessment of deep deltoid ligament (DDL) integrity can be of assistance in assessing ankle stability. In isolated type B fibular fractures a stepped approach, using the weight-bearing radiograph can be of additional value in assessing the stability. It is a low cost, prevents unnecessary surgery and contributes to a quick weight-bearing non-operative treatment.

Non-operative versus operative treatment of suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures: protocol for a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Surgery is widely recognised as the treatment of choice for suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures, because of the assumption that these injuries yield instability of the ankle joint. Stability assessment of ankle fractures using weightbearing radiographs is now used regularly to guide the treatment of transsyndesmotic and infrasyndesmotic ankle fractures. Patients with a congruent ankle joint on weightbearing radiographs can be treated non-operatively with excellent results. Weightbearing radiographs are, however, rarely performed on suprasyndesmotic fractures due to the assumed unstable nature of these fractures. If weightbearing radiographs can be used to identify suprasyndesmotic fractures suitable for non-operative treatment, we may save patients from the potential burdens of surgery.Our aim is to compare the efficacy of operative and non-operative treatment of patients with suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures that reduce on weightbearing radiographs.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A non-inferiority randomised controlled trial involving 120 patients will be conducted. A total of 120 patients with suprasyndesmotic ankle fractures with an initial radiographic medial clear space of <7 mm will be subjected to weightbearing radiographs. If the tibio-talar joint is completely reduced, we will randomise in a 1:1 ratio to either operative treatment including reduction and fixation of the syndesmosis or non-operative treatment with an orthosis. The primary study outcome is patient-reported ankle function and symptoms as measured by the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score at 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes include the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire, range of motion, radiographic results and rates of adverse events.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research South East, group A (permission number: 169307), has granted ethics approval. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for developing future diagnostic and treatment strategies for a common fracture type. The findings will be shared through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04615650.

Equivalent Fracture Patterns Demonstrate Poorer Postoperative Functional Outcomes Among Pronation-External Rotation IV Ankle Fractures

BACKGROUND

Pronation-external rotation IV (PER IV) ankle fractures are relatively uncommon among rotational ankle fractures, but they are the most severe type. Although recent studies have shown satisfactory functional recovery in PER IV after surgical treatment, the different outcomes between fracture patterns and equivalent fracture patterns have not yet been evaluated. This study aims to compare short-term outcomes in PER IV ankle injuries between fracture patterns and equivalent fracture patterns.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted at Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou, China, from July 2023 to October 2023. A total of 41 PER IV injuries from 2018 to 2022 were included and followed for at least one year. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle‑Hindfoot Scale, Ankle Range of Motions (ROM), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain scores were the main outcome measures. The rate of postoperative complications was the secondary outcome measure. Patient demographics were compared in PER IV fractures and PER IV ankle equivalent fractures.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 18.2 ± 4.2 (range, 12-24) months. Postoperative X-ray and CT scans showed a satisfactory reduction of the ankle joint and syndesmosis. No reduction loss of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis or ankle joints was found at the 12-month follow-up. The average AOFAS scores after one year in both groups were satisfactory (fracture group vs. fracture equivalent group, 96.72 ± 4.21 vs. 92.63 ± 5.36; P < 0.05). The average VAS scores after one year in both groups were satisfactory (fracture group vs. fracture equivalent group, 1.45 ± 2.01 vs. 1.38 ± 1.96; P > 0.05). The average ROM scores after one year in both groups were satisfactory (dorsiflexion, fracture group vs. fracture equivalent group, 15.21 ± 5.62 vs. 13.46 ± 4.35; P > 0.05; plantar flexion, fracture group vs. fracture equivalent group, 38.62 ± 9.68 vs. 42.32 ± 5.28; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

For patients with PER-IV ankle injuries, the fracture mode had a better prognosis than the fracture equivalent mode.

Indications and Interpretation of Stress Radiographs in Supination External Rotation Ankle Fractures

Introduction In supination external rotation (SER) ankle fractures with an intact medial malleolus, stability hinges upon the competence of the deltoid ligament. The purpose of this study is to define the indications and establish criteria for a positive stress radiograph. Methods This is a prospective study of 27 isolated SER lateral malleolar fractures with a reduced ankle mortise. Pain and swelling were noted about the medial ankle, followed by an ultrasound to evaluate the integrity of the deltoid ligament. Static and stress radiographs were performed on both the fractured and contralateral ankles. Results Fourteen patients were normal on ultrasound examination, eight had partial tears, and five had full-thickness tears. The difference in the level of pain to palpation postero-medially between the complete tear (7 +/- 1) and the partial tear (1.3 +/- 2.4) group was significant (p < .001). The negative predictive values for medial swelling and tenderness were 93% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for medial clear space on stress radiograph (fracture (fx)) > 5.0 mm were both 100% while a 2.5 mm or greater change to the contralateral side yielded a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 95%. Conclusion The lack of significant medial pain, as well as swelling, implies the absence of a complete ligament tear and eliminates the need for stress examination. Conversely, the presence of medial signs of injury is suggestive, but not pathognomonic for a complete deltoid tear. Medial clear space (MCS) variability prompts to recommend a minimum of 2.5 mm on stress radiographs compared to the contralateral side as indirect evidence for a complete tear of the deltoid ligament.

Effect of Postoperative Immobilization Time on PROMIS Scores and Clinical outcomes in Ankle Fracture Patients

Background

Ankle fractures are among the most common injuries treated by orthopaedic surgeons, yet little guidance exists in postoperative protocols for ankle fractures concerning time of immobilization. Here, we aim to investigate the association between early mobilization and patient-reported outcomes. Our null hypothesis was that no difference in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores would be identified in patients when comparing the effect of time of immobilization.

Methods

A retrospective review identified ankle fractures that underwent surgical fixation between 2015 and 2020 at a level 1 trauma center and its associated facilities. One hundred nineteen patients from 9 providers met inclusion criteria for our final analysis. Forty-seven patients were immobilized for <6 weeks (early) and 68 patients were immobilized for ≥6 weeks (late). Our primary outcome measures included the PROMIS questionnaire, time of immobilization, and time to full weightbearing. Our secondary outcome measures included time to return to work, wound complications (infection, delayed healing), and complications associated with fracture fixation (loss of reduction, delayed union, reoperation, hardware failure). Repeated measures analysis of variance as well as linear mixed outcome regression were used to predict each of the PROMIS outcomes of anxiety, depression, physical function, and pain interference. Each model included the predictors of age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, smoking status, payor, provider, time to radiographic union, time to return to work, time to full weightbearing, and early vs late immobilized groups.

Results

We found no differences in PROMIS scores between mobilization groups even when controlling for possible confounders such as age, BMI, rheumatoid arthritis, smoking status, and diabetes mellitus (P > .05). Furthermore, we found no differences in complications associated with fracture fixation (P > .05). Across our cohort, lower physical function scores were associated with higher BMI, increasing age, and longer time to return to work/play (P < .05). Our analysis further showed that depression, anxiety, pain interference, and physical function levels improve as a function of time (P < .05). Higher BMI was also noted to have a significant impact on PROMIS depression and anxiety when controlling for other variables. African Americans had greater pain interference scores (P < .05).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that early mobilization in a walker boot after operative treatment of ankle fractures is a safe alternative to casting in non-neuropathic patients. When considering operative treatment of ankle fractures, factors such as increasing age and BMI are likely to negatively affect postoperative anxiety, physical function, and depression PROMIS scores regardless of immobilization time.

Level of Evidence

Level III, retrospective cohort study.

The prognosis of ankle fractures: a systematic review

The aim of this study was to update the scientific evidence for ankle fracture prognosis by addressing radiographic osteoarthritis, time course and prognostic factors.

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials, controlled trials or observational studies, including case series and case-control studies investigating radiologically confirmed osteoarthritis in adults with a classified ankle fracture, treated with or without surgery, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Also included were studies examining prognostic factors predicting radiologically confirmed osteoarthritis. Tibial plafond and talus fractures were excluded.

Thirty-four studies were included examining 3447 patients. Extracted data included study type, inclusion and exclusion criteria, age, number of patients, number of fractures according to the author-reported classification method, radiological osteoarthritis, follow-up period, prognostic factors, and treatment.

Severe heterogeneity was visible in the analyses (I² > 90%), reflecting clinical heterogeneity possibly arising from the presence of osteoarthritis at baseline, the classifications used for the fractures and for osteoarthritis.

The incidence of osteoarthritis was 25% (95% CI: 18–32) and 34% (95% CI: 23–45) for more severe fractures with involvement of the posterior malleolus.

The severity of the trauma, as reflected by the fracture classification, was the most important prognostic factor for the development of radiographic osteoarthritis, but there is also a risk with simpler injuries.

The period within which osteoarthritis develops or becomes symptomatic with an indication for treatment could not be specified.

A systematic review of ankle fracture-dislocations: Recent update and future prospects

BACKGROUND

Ankle fracture-dislocations are one of the most severe types of ankle injuries. Compared to the simple ankle fractures, ankle fracture-dislocations are usually more severely traumatized and can cause worse functional outcomes. The purpose of this study was to review the previous literatures to understand the anatomy, mechanisms, treatment, and functional outcomes associated with ankle fracture-dislocations.

METHODS

The available literatures from January 1985 to December 2021 in three main medical databases were searched and analyzed. The detailed information was extracted for each article, such as researchers, age, gender, groups, type of study, type of center research, level of evidence, significant findings, study aim, cause of injury, time from injury to surgery, type of fracture, direction of dislocation, follow-up, postoperative complications and functional evaluation scores.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies (1,089 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Only one study was a prospective randomized trial. The top-ranked cause of injury was high-energy injury (21.3%). Moreover, the most frequent type of fracture in ankle dislocations was supination-external rotation (SER) ankle fracture (43.8%), while the most common directions of dislocation were lateral (50%) and posterior (38.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, most ankle fracture-dislocations are caused by high-energy injuries and usually have poor functional outcomes. The mechanism of injury can be dissected by the ankle anatomy and Lauge-Hansen's classification. The treatment of ankle fracture-dislocations still requires more detailed and rational solutions due to the urgency of occurrence, the severity of injury, and the postoperative complications.

Ankle Joint Pressure in Supination-External Rotation Injuries: A Biomechanical Study in an Unrestrained Cadaver Model

BACKGROUND

Previous biomechanical studies simulating supination-external rotation (SER) IV injuries revealed different alterations in contact area and peak pressure. We investigated joint reaction forces and radiographic parameters in an unrestrained, more physiological setup.

METHODS

Twelve lower leg specimens were destabilized stepwise by osteotomy of the fibula (SER II) and transection of the superficial (SER IVa) and the deep deltoid ligament (SER IVb) according to the Lauge-Hansen classification. Sensors in the ankle joint recorded tibio-talar pressure changes with axial loading at 700 N in neutral position, 10° of dorsiflexion, and 20° of plantarflexion. Radiographs were taken for each step.

RESULTS

Three of 12 specimen collapsed during SER IVb. In the neutral position, the peak pressure and contact area changed insignificantly from 2.6 ± 0.5 mPa (baseline) to 3.0 ± 1.4 mPa (SER IVb) (P = .35) and from 810 ± 42 mm² to 735 ± 27 mm² (P = .08), respectively. The corresponding medial clear space (MCS) increased significantly from 2.5 ± 0.4 mm (baseline) to 3.9 ± 1.1 mm (SER IVb) (P = .028).The position of the ankle joint had a decisive effect on contact area (P = .00), center of force (P = .00) and MCS (P = .01).

CONCLUSION

Simulated SER IVb injuries demonstrated radiological, but no biomechanical changes. This should be considered for surgical decision making based on MCS width on weightbearing radiographs.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Not applicable. Biomechanical study.

Surgical treatment of displaced isolated lateral malleolar fractures: incidence of adverse events requiring revision: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Recent systematic reviews support that non-operative management should be the standard treatment for all stable isolated lateral malleolar fractures (ILMFs), regardless of fibular fracture displacement. Surgical fixation of ILMFs carries a risk of adverse events (AEs), and many patients will later require implant removal. We wanted to estimate the incidence of AEs requiring revision after surgical fixation of "potentially stable" displaced ILMFs before non-operative treatment became standard care in our department.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To identify patients with "potentially stable" ILMFs who had been treated surgically in a historical cohort, we retrospectively applied the stability-based classification system, introduced by Michelson et al., to a cohort of 1006 patients with ankle fractures treated surgically from 2011 to 2016. The primary outcome of this retrospective cohort study was the incidence of AEs that had functionally significant adverse effects on outcome and required revision in the first 12 months after surgery. AEs were graded and categorized using the Orthopedic Surgical Adverse Events Severity (OrthoSAVES) System.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 108 patients with "potentially stable" displaced ILMFs; 4 patients (3.7% [95% CI (0.1-7.3%]) experienced AEs requiring revision in the first twelve months after surgery. There were 5 additional patients (4.6%) with functionally significant AEs where revision surgery was not indicated within the first twelve months after surgical fixation. A further 5 patients (4.6%) had AEs managed in the outpatient clinic (grade II); 36 patients (33.3%) required secondary implant removal due to implant-related discomfort.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical fixation of ILMFs carries a risk of severe AEs, and many patients will subsequently need implant-removal procedures. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain whether non-operative treatment can lower the risk of AEs and the need for additional surgical procedures.

Risk Factors for Aseptic Revision of Operatively Treated Ankle Fractures

BACKGROUND

Early revision rates within 12 months after ankle fracture open reduction internal fixation (AF-ORIF) are fairly low; however, they remain relevant given the volume of ankle fractures occurring annually. Understanding these rates is complex because reoperation due to technical or mechanical complications is typically reported alongside soft tissue-related problems such as symptomatic hardware, wound dehiscence, or infection. There are limited data identifying risk factors specifically for revision of ankle fracture fixation in the absence of soft tissue complications. Understanding variables that predispose to aseptic technical and mechanical failure without this confounder may provide insight and improve patient care.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed at 2 large academic medical centers. Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) data available from 2002 to 2019 were used to identify patients who underwent aseptic revision of AF-ORIF within 12 months (n = 33). A control group (n = 100) was selected by identifying sequential patients who underwent AF-ORIF not requiring revision within 12 months. Multiple factors were recorded for all patients in both cohorts. Each fracture was also evaluated according to the Ankle Reduction Classification System (ARCS) of Chien et al,⁸ which categorizes biplanar talar displacement in relation to a central tibial plumb line into 1 of 3 grades: A (0-2 mm), B (3-10 mm), and C (>10 mm). Adapted from its original purpose of grading reduction quality, we applied ARCS to pre-reduction radiographs to assess initial fracture displacement. All variables collected were compared in univariate analysis. Variables that achieved significance in univariate comparisons were included as candidates for multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

Final multivariable logistic regression modeling demonstrated the following factors to independently predict the need for aseptic revision surgery: documented falls in the early postoperative period (aOR, 298; 95% CI, 15.4, 5759; P < .001), movement-altering disorders (aOR, 81.7; 95% CI, 4.12, 1620; P = .004), a nonanatomic mortise (medial clear space [MCS] > superior clear space [SCS]) on immediate postoperative imaging (aOR, 38.4; 95% CI, 5.53, 267; P < .001), initial coronal plane tibiotalar displacement >10 mm and sagittal plane tibiotalar dislocation (ARCS-C) (aOR vs ARCS-A, 25.8; 95% CI, 2.81, 237; P = .004), substance abuse (aOR, 15.7; 95% CI, 2.66, 92.8; P = .002), and polytrauma (aOR, 12.3; 95% CI, 2.02, 74.8; P = .006).

CONCLUSION

In this investigation we found a notable increase in risk for revision surgery after AF-ORIF for patients who had one of the following: (1) falls in the early postoperative period, (2) movement-altering disorders, (3) a nonanatomic mortise (MCS > SCS) on immediate postoperative imaging, (4) more severe initial fracture displacement, (5) substance abuse, or (6) polytrauma. Identifying these factors may allow surgeons to better understand risk and counsel patients, and may serve as future targets for intervention aimed at improving patient safety and outcomes after ankle fracture ORIF.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Does Proximal Placement of the Syndesmotic Reduction Clamp Affect the Optimal Position for the Medial Tine? A Cadaveric Pilot Study

Sagittal plane syndesmotic malreduction is associated with off-axis, eccentric reduction clamping and preferential placement of the medial tine anteriorly has been proposed to minimize the malreduction risk. Although clamp placement 1cm proximal to the plafond is recommend, no previous study has assessed whether differences in the anatomic position of the fibula within the incisura (eccentric 1cm superior and concentric 2 cm superior to the tibial plafond) affect the optimal position for the clamps medial tine during reduction of the syndesmosis. The purpose of the present cadaveric pilot study was to evaluate and compare the sagittal syndesmotic malreduction rate with various clamping vectors, 1cm and 2cm from the tibial plafond, respectively. Six through the knee cadaveric specimens were obtained. Kirschner wires and a surgical maker were used to denote placement of the reduction clamp laterally on the peroneal ridge of the fibula, and medially within the anterior, middle, and posterior thirds (Zones A, B, C) of tibia's width; 1 cm and 2 cm from the plafond. CT scans were obtained as controls, followed by destabilization of the syndesmosis. Reductions were then performed sequentially at each level (1 cm, 2 cm) and zone (A, B, C); and CT scans repeated for assessment. In most specimens (n = 5), an eccentric (1 cm) to concentric (2 cm) positional transition was observed within incisura fibularis. The transition altered the resulting fibular displacements in some specimens (2A anterior, vs 2B posterior), resulting in a higher malreduction rate with anterior (zone 2A, 33%) vs central (Zone 2B, 17%) positioning of medial tine. Although no definitive conclusions can be reached from the present pilot study, future studies with a greater number of specimens and clamping vectors are warranted to determine whether positional transitions of the fibula within the incisura fibularis affect the optimal position for the clamps medial tine.

A prospective evaluation of strength and endurance of ankle dorsiflexors-plantar flexors after conservative management of lateral malleolar fractures

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate patients with conservatively treated stable lateral malleolar fractures with isokinetic tests.

Patients and methods

Between January 2016 and November 2017, a total of 24 patients (12 males, 12 females; mean age 40.8±15.0 years; range, 18 to 68 years) with an isolated stable lateral malleolar fracture treated conservatively with the circular cast were included in this prospective study. Calf circumferences, ankle range of motion (ROM), pain levels, and functional outcomes were recorded. The muscle strengths and endurance of the injured side were compared with the non-injured side. All patients were evaluated by isokinetic test after removal of the cast, and three and six months after the rehabilitation period.

Results

The ROM was found to be lower after removal of the plaster cast, compared to the contralateral ankle. During cast removal, we also found that both dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscle strength decreased by 25.6% and 44.7%, respectively, and decreased to 10.3% and 3.6% at three months post-rehabilitation. At the end of six months, no statistically significant difference was found between the two sides. In the dorsiflexion-plantar flexion endurance values, 37.8% and 54.1% deficit were detected before the rehabilitation protocol, respectively (p<0.05). At three months, these values decreased to 6.1% and 13.6%, respectively and the endurances of the injured sides surpassed the non-injured sides (p<0.05) at six months.

Conclusion

Conservative management of stable isolated lateral malleolar fractures with circular cast causes atrophy and decreases strength-endurance of the calf muscles due to immobilization. These changes are expected to diminish over time and functional outcomes are excellent with a good rehabilitation program.

The Value of Additional Gravity Stress Radiographs for Decision Making in the Treatment of Isolated Type B Distal Fibular Fractures

BACKGROUND

Prior to treatment decisions concerning isolated Weber type B ankle fractures, assessment of the stability of the ankle joint is mandatory. The gravity stress (GS) radiograph is a radiographic tool to determine stability. We hypothesized that this additional GS radiograph would lead to fewer operative treatments by applying the criterion of operative treatment when medial clear space (MCS) > superior clear space (SCS) + 2 mm on the GS radiograph, compared with the nonstressed mortise view criteria of advising operative treatment in case of MCS > SCS + 1 mm.

METHODS

This retrospective comparative cohort study analyzed 343 patients aged between 18 and 70 years with an isolated Weber type B ankle fracture diagnosed at the emergency department between January 2014 and December 2019. The cohort was divided into 2 groups based on whether an additional GS radiograph was performed. Group I consisted of 151 patients in whom a regular mortise and lateral radiograph were performed. Group II comprised 192 patients, with an additional GS radiograph. Primary outcome was type of treatment (conservative vs operative). Secondary outcomes were patient-reported functional outcomes and pain.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics of both groups did not differ. In group I, surgery was performed in 60 patients (39.7%) compared with 108 patients (56.3%) in group II (P = .002). In the operatively treated patients, the mean MCS on regular mortise view was significantly smaller in patients in whom an additional GS radiograph was performed compared to patients without an additional GS radiograph (4.1 mm vs 5.2 mm, P < .001). Mean Olerud-Molander Ankle Score and mean visual analog scale (VAS) for pain did not differ significantly between groups I and II.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to what was hypothesized, the introduction of an additional gravity stress radiograph, by which operative treatment was indicated if the MCS was wider than the SCS + 2 mm, did not result in reduced operative treatment of Weber type B ankle fractures when operative treatment was indicated for MCS > SCS + 1 mm on non-gravity stress radiographs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III: retrospective comparative study.

The additional value of weight-bearing and gravity stress ankle radiographs in determining stability of isolated type B ankle fractures

GOAL

The aim of this study is to investigate whether weight-bearing and gravity stress radiographs have additional value in predicting concomitant deep deltoid ligamentous (DDL) injury in case of isolated Weber type B fibular fractures. This may help to make the clinically relevant distinction between unstable fractures and fractures that can be treated conservatively.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, 90 patients with an isolated type B ankle fracture, without a medial or posterior fracture, and a medial clear space (MCS) < 6 mm on the regular mortise (RM) view were included. In all patients, an additional gravity stress (GS) view and an MRI scan were performed. Furthermore, in 51 patients, an additional weight-bearing (WB) radiograph was performed. The MCS and superior clear space (SCS) measurements of these radiographs were compared with MRI findings to measure sensitivity and specificity in excluding deep deltoid ligament (DDL) rupture.

RESULTS

The mean MCS on the RM view was 3.32 mm (1.73-5.93) compared to 4.75 mm (2.33-10.40) on the GS view and 3.18 mm (1.93-6.9) on the WB radiograph. MRI showed a high-grade or complete deltoid ligament tear in 25 (28%) patients. Using an MCS cut-off value of ≥ SCS + 2 mm, the RM view showed 0% sensitivity and 97% specificity in diagnosing a DDL rupture. Both the GS view (with MCS ≥ SCS + 3 mm as cut-off value) and the WB radiograph (with cut-off value MCS ≥ SCS + 2 mm) showed 6% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

CONCLUSION

The gravity stress and weight-bearing radiograph can accurately exclude DDL injury. They might have extra value in addition to the conventional mortise view in assessing the stability of isolated type B ankle fractures. This helps in deciding whether patients should be selected for operative or safe conservative treatment.

Fibula fractures management

Isolated distal fibula fractures represent the majority of ankle fractures. These fractures are often the result of a low-energy trauma with external rotation and supination mechanism. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and radiographic exam. Stress X-rays have a role in detecting associated mortise instability. Management depends on fracture type, displacement and associated ankle instability. For simple, minimally displaced fractures without ankle instability, conservative treatment leads to excellent results. Conservative treatment must also be considered in overaged unhealthy patients, even in unstable fractures. Surgical treatment is indicated when fracture or ankle instability are present, with several techniques described. Outcome is excellent in most cases. Complications regarding wound healing are frequent, especially with plate fixation, whereas other complications are uncommon.

Stability-Based Classification of Ankle Fractures-The Long-Term Outcome After 11-13 Years of Follow-up

OBJECTIVES

To assess the long-term functional and radiological outcome, as well as complications and reoperations of ankle fracture patients treated based on stability classification.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

SETTING

Main Trauma Center, University Hospital.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

One hundred sixty patients were treated based on stability classification. After a mean follow-up of 12 years, 102 patients were assessed; 67 visited the outpatient clinic, and standard standing ankle radiographs were taken; osteoarthritis (OA) was graded according to Kellgren-Lawrence classification. The remaining patients (n = 35) were followed up via mail or telephone. The complications and reoperations of all 160 patients were collected from electronic patient records.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Olerud-Molander ankle score, foot and ankle outcome score, visual analog scale, RAND-36 item health survey, range-of-motion measurements, and Kellgren-Lawrence OA classification.

RESULTS

Very good to excellent ankle functional outcome was reported by 96% of the stable fracture group [mean Olerud-Molander ankle score (OMAS), 92; range, 20-100] and 82% of the unstable group (mean OMAS, 86; range, 30-100). For patients with an unstable fracture, OMAS and VAS pain scores significantly improved from 2 to 12 years, even though higher grades of radiologic OA were found. No patients with fractures deemed stable needed operative intervention even in the long-term follow-up. Instead, 30% of the operatively treated patients underwent reoperation during the long follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of ankle fractures based on stability-based classification led to predictable, functionally good outcomes even during long-term follow-up. Ankle fractures can reliably be deemed stable based on this classification and treated without failures in the long term.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Customized Three-Dimensional-Printed Orthopedic Close Contact Casts for the Treatment of Stable Ankle Fractures: Finite Element Analysis and a Pilot Study

Ankle fracture is one of the most common traumatic fractures among the elderly population. The majority of ankle fractures are stable types with the typically conservative strategy of close contact casting treatment. The continuous use of unventilated standard cast immobilization severely affects patient's satisfaction and compliance and markedly increases the rates of various complications. Three-dimensional (3D) printing for casts has advantages of lightweight, ventilated, proper-fit, and esthetic improvements. In this work, this novel 3D-printed cast has been applied to individuals with stable ankle fractures, and its effectiveness can be successfully validated with finite element analysis and a pilot study. A 30% reduction of the volume was chosen as the optimal result in topology optimization. Both 3D-printed casts and conventional casts showed significant ankle function improvement after immobilization for 6 weeks (p = 0.000). The 3D-printed casts were superior to the traditional casts in Olerud-Molander Ankle Scores (OMAS), with the mean difference of 8.3 ± 8.57 OMAS points (95% CI -10.8 to 27.5; p = 0.354) for 6 weeks, implying that the 3D-printed casts possibly maintain the equal clinical efficacy as the traditional casts. The statistically significant difference between groups from the 3D-printed cast and the traditional one observed in C-QUEST 2.0 was 11.3 ± 1.5 points (95% CI 8.0-14.6; p = 0.000), indicating that the 3D-printed cast possesses outperforming satisfaction and compliance and has great potential in practical applications. There were no severe complications in the 3D-printed casts, but more moderate complications were observed in the traditional casts.

Obesity and risk for open reduction and internal fixation of syndesmotic injuries in the setting of concomitant ankle fractures

Introduction

The association between obesity and the need for open reduction and surgical fixation of the syndesmosis in the setting of malleolar ankle fractures remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between obesity, ankle fracture complexity, and the need for open reduction and fixation of the syndesmosis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the NSQIP database was performed for patients undergoing surgical fixation of isolated, closed ankle fractures. Patients were grouped by fracture pattern into 6 cohorts (uni-, bi- and trimalleolar ankle fractures with or without syndesmotic injury). Demographic data was collected and compared between groups and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ankle fracture pattern.

Results

A total of 15,841 patients (mean age 48.9 years) were identified for inclusion. Regression analyses revealed that BMI had a significant association with the incidence of open reduction and internal fixation of the ankle syndesmosis, but there was no association between BMI and malleolar fracture pattern.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that elevated BMI is associated with an increased risk for open reduction and internal fixation of the syndesmosis in malleolar ankle fractures. However, obesity was not associated with ankle fracture pattern itself, whereas older age, female sex, and white race were more significant predictors of fracture complexity. This data provides a framework for further evaluation of the effect that both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors have on fracture complexity and operative management of patients with such injuries.

Level of evidence

Case-control study. Level III.

Surgical or non-surgical treatment of traumatic skeletal fractures in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of benefits and harms

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive overview of treatments of common fractures is missing, although it would be important for shared decision-making in clinical practice. The aim was to determine benefits and harms of surgical compared to non-surgical treatments for traumatic skeletal fractures.

METHODS

We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and CENTRAL until November 2018, for randomized trials of surgical treatment in comparison with or in addition to non-surgical treatment of fractures in adults. For harms, only trials with patient enrollment in 2000 or later were included, while no time restriction was applied to benefits. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data from full-text trials, and performed risk of bias assessment. Outcomes were self-reported pain, function, and quality of life, and serious adverse events (SAEs). Random effects model (Hedges' g) was used.

RESULTS

Out of 28375 records screened, we included 61 trials and performed meta-analysis on 12 fracture types in 11 sites: calcaneus, clavicula, femur, humerus, malleolus, metacarpus, metatarsus, radius, rib, scaphoideum, and thoraco-lumbar spine. Seven other fracture types only had one trial available. For distal radius fractures, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was 0.31 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.53, n = 378 participants) for function, favoring surgery, however, with greater risk of SAEs (RR = 3.10 (1.42 to 6.77), n = 436). For displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures, SMD was 0.64 (0.13 to 1.16) for function (n = 244) and 0.19 (0.01 to 0.36) for quality of life (n = 506) favoring surgery. Surgery was associated with a smaller risk of SAE than non-surgical treatment for displaced midshaft clavicular fractures (RR = 0.62 (0.42 to 0.92), n = 1394). None of the other comparisons showed statistical significance differences and insufficient data existed for most of the common fracture types.

CONCLUSIONS

Of 12 fracture types with more than one trial, only two demonstrated a difference in favor of surgery (distal radius fractures and displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures), one of which demonstrated a greater risk of harms in the surgical group (distal radius fractures). Our results highlight the current paucity of high-quality randomized trials for common fracture types and a considerable heterogeneity and risk of bias in several of the available trials.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42015020805.

Sagittal ankle position does not affect axial CT measurements of the syndesmosis in a cadaveric model

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ankle plantarflexion and the axial location of measurement on quantitative syndesmosis assessment.

METHODS

Twelve fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens were secured in three positions of ankle plantarflexion (0°, 15°, and 30°) using an ankle-spanning external fixator and underwent CT scans at each position. Syndesmotic measurements were obtained on axial images using three previously described methods (six measurements) at the level of the tibial plafond and 1 cm proximal to the plafond. Method 1 evaluated the distance between the most anterior and posterior aspects of the fibula and tibia. Method 2 measured medial-lateral diastasis of the anterior and posterior aspects of the fibula, and fibular anterior-posterior translation. Method 3 evaluated axial rotation of the fibula. All measurements were performed by two independent observers. Inter-rater reliability of each measurement was evaluated using intra-class coefficients. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) was performed to evaluate within-specimen differences in measurements obtained at varying ankle positions.

RESULTS

The anterior incisura component of method 1 demonstrated poor-to-moderate inter-rater reliability across all ankle positions and at both measurement locations. Inter-rater reliability was highest for method 2, especially when measured 1 cm proximal to the plafond. Method 3 demonstrated moderate reliability 1 cm proximal to the plafond. After correcting for multiple comparisons, RM-ANOVA and pairwise analysis revealed that none of the measurements changed significantly with varying ankle position.

CONCLUSION

The inter-rater reliability of the most common method of syndesmotic evaluation (method 1) was found to be lower than in previous studies. The most reliable syndesmotic evaluation can be made by measuring diastasis and anteroposterior translation 1 cm proximal to the plafond (method 2). Ankle position from 0° to 30° of plantarflexion did not change the measurements obtained.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Risk of Ankle Fusion or Arthroplasty After Operatively and Nonoperatively Treated Ankle Fractures: A Matched Cohort Population Study

OBJECTIVES

To define the risk and incidence of post-traumatic ankle arthritis requiring ankle arthroplasty or fusion after ankle fracture in a large cohort and compare that rate to matched healthy patients from the general population.

DESIGN

Multiple databases were used to identify patients either treated surgically or nonsurgically for ankle fractures. Each patient was matched to 4 individuals from the general population (13.5 million) with no previous treatment for ankle fracture. Ankle fusion and replacement incidence was compared using the Kaplan-Meier analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

Incidence of arthroplasty or fusion in all patients managed for rotational ankle fractures.

RESULTS

We identified 44,133 and 88,266 patients who had undergone operative management of ankle fracture (OAF) or nonoperative management of ankle fracture (NOAF) by an orthopaedic surgeon, respectively. Three hundred six (0.65%) patients who had OAF eventually underwent fusion or arthroplasty after a median 2.8 and 6.9 years, respectively. Among NOAF, n = 236 (0.17%) patients underwent fusion or arthroplasty after a median of 3.2 and 5.6 years, respectively. Surgical treatment, older age, comorbidity, and postinjury infection significantly increased the risk of fusion/arthroplasty. Compared with matched controls, the risk of fusion/arthroplasty was not independent of time, following an exponential decay pattern. OAF patient risk of fusion/arthroplasty was >20 times the general population in the 3 years after injury and approached the risk of NOAF by 14 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with a matched control group, and after adjustment for medical comorbidity, rotational ankle fractures requiring surgical open reduction internal fixation increased the likelihood of arthroplasty or fusion by 3.5 times. This study allows for accurate prognostication of patient risk of arthroplasty or fusion, using patient- and injury-specific risk factors, both immediately after the initial injury and then subsequently during the follow up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Long-term outcome in operatively and non-operatively treated isolated type B fibula fractures

PURPOSE

Type B fibula fractures are the most common type of ankle fractures. Generally, surgical repair is advised for unstable fractures and non-operative treatment for stable fractures. However, evidence on long-term functional outcome of both treatment regimens is lacking. Aim of this study is to compare the long-term outcome in function and pain between patients with an isolated type B fibula fracture treated non-operatively and surgically.

MATERIAL & METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, all consecutive patients aged between 18 and 75 years, treated non-operatively or surgically between January 2008 and December 2015 for a distal fibula fracture at the level of the syndesmosis without an additional medial or posterior fracture and with a medial clear space ≤6 mm were included. All eligible patients received a questionnaire, composed of the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score (AOFAS), the Euroqol-5D (EQ-5D) for quality of life and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain sensation. With a mean follow-up of 5.3 years, 229 patients were included. For all aspects of the questionnaire, there was no significant difference between non-operative and operative treatment in outcome of function and pain: the EQ-5D score was respectively 0.8 vs. 0.9 (p = 0.72), mean VAS score 0.8 vs. 1.3 (p = 0.09), OMA score 84 vs. 84 (p = 0.98) and for the AOFAS 93 vs. 90 (p = 0.28). 33% of the patients who had surgery had revision surgery for implant removal because of persistent pain complaints. In 3% of the surgically treated patients, a wound infection required intravenous antibiotic treatment. In the non-operatively treated cohort, one patient developed a deep venous thrombosis in the fractured leg.

CONCLUSION

According to results of this study, in adult patients with an isolated distal fibula and medial clear space ≤6 mm, without proven instability these fractures can safely be treated non-operatively, while avoiding risks and costs of surgery and preserving good long-term outcome in terms of pain and function.

Effect of Early Weightbearing Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Unstable Ankle Fractures on Wound Complications or Failures of Fixation

BACKGROUND

There is a growing trend toward early weightbearing as tolerated (WBAT) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures. To date, studies have excluded fractures with associated syndesmotic injuries from their cohorts.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, a chart review was performed at a single level 1 trauma center, identifying all unstable ankle fractures that underwent operative fixation between July 2016 and July 2017. After exclusion criteria, 63 patients were identified and 31 were included in the final analysis, with 14 undergoing syndesmotic fixation. WBAT was initiated after suture removal, between 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Outcomes included fracture union, radiographic maintenance of alignment, hardware failures, wound complications, and the need for repeat surgery.

RESULTS

Weightbearing was initiated at an average of 17.8 days. All 31 patients progressed toward fracture union, with no hardware failures. Three patients developed superficial wound breakdown, which was treated with protected weightbearing in all cases and oral antibiotics in 1 case. All 3 went on to heal from their incisions. One patient had delayed wound breakdown and required a split-thickness skin graft that subsequently healed without complication. One patient underwent hardware removal 6 months postoperatively. There were no revision ORIF procedures.

CONCLUSION

There is literature supporting early WBAT after ORIF of unstable ankle fractures in patients without major comorbidities. This article supports this trend, demonstrating that a group of ankle fractures requiring syndesmotic fixation were included in the early weightbearing cohort without a higher rate of catastrophic failure or increased wound problems.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective cohort study.

Physiologic widening of the medial clear space: What's normal?

BACKGROUND

Literature has validated the use of stress radiographs for evaluation of ankle stability. However, to our knowledge no study has reported the amount of physiological widening that occurs with manual external rotation stress test in uninjured ankles. The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of medial clear space widening that occurs with a manual external rotation stress test in uninjured ankles.

METHODS

A cohort of adult patients undergoing operative fixation of unstable ankle fractures were prospectively enrolled to have their contralateral ankle undergo manual external rotation stress examination. Fluoroscopic images of the unaffected ankle were performed in the OR. A non-stressed mortise view and manual external rotation stress view were obtained with a standardized marker to correct for magnification differences. The images were de-identified, presented in a randomized order and reviewers who were blinded. Each reviewer measured the medial clear space.

RESULTS

Thirty fluoroscopic images on fifteen patients were obtained. The mean medial clear space on the non-stressed mortise view was 3.1 mm (SD-0.69; Range 1.9 to 4.2, 95% CI [2.75, 3.45]) versus a mean of 3.2 mm (SD-0.71; Range 2.0 to 4.7, 95% CI [2.94, 3.66]) in the stressed mortise view group. Inter-rater reliability was excellent between all observers for medial clear space (ICC-0.88; CI [0.78, 0.94]).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the previous literature and allow us to advocate for ankle fractures with >5 mm medial clear space after external rotational stress to be considered unstable. Additionally, ankles with a medial clear space between 4 and 5 mm, instability should be considered only if lateral shift is > 2 mm on stress examination. Our data shows that no physiologically healthy ankles widened beyond these established cut-offs before or after the manual external rotation stress.

Ankle Fracture Stability-Based Classification: A Study of Reproducibility and Clinical Prognostic Ability

OBJECTIVE

To compare the reproducibility and prognostic capacity of 2 commonly used ankle fracture classifications to the stability-based classification.

METHODS

One hundred ninety-three consecutive rotational-type ankle fractures treated during a year at our institution in patients older than 18 years were retrospectively analyzed. Pilon and pathologic fractures were excluded. The fractures were treated by attending physicians who were unaware of the stability-based classification system. Three observers classified injury radiographs using the Lauge-Hansen, Weber/AO, and stability-based classifications systems. Reproducibility (interobserver variation) of each classification system was calculated using kappa statistics. Prognostic values were evaluated by calculating the area under the curve for the receiver-operating characteristic curves (using surgery as the positive outcome).

RESULTS

The stability-based and Weber/AO classifications showed better reproducibility [kappa 0.938 (95% confidence interval 0.921-0.952), kappa 0.97 (0.961-0.976)], respectively, than the Lauge-Hansen [kappa 0.74 (0.664-0.795); P < 0.05]. The stability-based classification was more accurate (P < 0.001) in predicting surgical treatment [area under the curve 0.883 (95% confidence interval 0.852-0.914)] compared with the other 2 classifications [0.626 (0.576-0.675) and 0.698 (0.641-0.755)], respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The stability-based classification was both highly reproducible (kappa 0.938) and had superior prognostic capacity to identify patients who needed surgical intervention compared with both the Lauge-Hansen and AO/Weber classification systems. Importantly, there were no patients who were classified as stable who failed nonoperative treatment. This extends earlier studies by directly demonstrating its prognostic advantage to other classification systems.

Defining the three most responsive and specific CT measurements of ankle syndesmotic malreduction

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability and accuracy of existing computed tomography (CT) methods for measuring the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis in uninjured, paired cadaveric specimens and in simulated malreduction models. It was hypothesized that a repeatable set of measurements exists to accurately and quantitatively describe the typical forms of syndesmotic malreduction using contralateral ankle comparison.

METHODS

Twelve cadaveric lower-leg specimen pairs were imaged with CT to generate models for this study. Thirty-five measurements were performed on each native model. Next, four distinct fibular malreductions were produced via digital simulation and all measurements were repeated for each state: (1) 2-mm lateral translation; (2) 2-mm posterior translation; (3) 7-degree external rotation; (4) the previous three states combined. The modified standardized response mean (mSRM) was calculated for each measurement. To assess rater reliability and side-to-side agreements of the native state measurements, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Pearson correlation coefficients (PCC) were calculated, respectively.

RESULTS

The most responsive measurements for detecting isolated malreduction were the Leporjärvi clear space for lateral translation, the Nault anterior tibiofibular distance for posterior translation, and the Nault talar dome angle for external rotation of the fibula. These measurements demonstrated fair to excellent inter-rater ICCs (0.64-0.76) and variable side-to-side PCCs (0.14-0.47).

CONCLUSIONS

The most reliable method to assess the syndesmosis on CT was to compare side-to-side differences using three distinct measurements, one for each type of fibular malreduction, allowing assessment of the magnitude and directionality of syndesmosis malreduction. Reliable evaluation is essential for assessing subtle syndesmosis injuries, malreduction and surgical planning.

Editorial Commentary: Which Procedure Contributes to Best Outcomes After Arthroscopic Reduction and Minimally Invasive Surgery for Ankle Fractures?

The algorithm of arthroscopic reduction and minimally invasive surgery (ARMIS) can decrease the incidence of complications and reoperations, in spite of longer operative times and higher doses of irradiation for the patients with a supination-external rotation ankle fracture. At the present time, however, we cannot identify which procedure contributes to improved outcomes with use of the ARMIS algorithm.

Biomechanical Analysis of Instability in Rotational Distal Fibula Fractures (OTA/AO 44-B1) With an Intact Deltoid Ligament

OBJECTIVES

To biomechanically analyze instability in supination external rotation (SER) II/III patterns.

METHODS

Nineteen cadaver legs were tested in a mechanical jig. One, 2, 3, and 4 Nm of external rotation were applied to intact ankles, SER II injuries, and SER III injuries. The talar position relative to the tibia was recorded using 3D motion tracking. Change from the unloaded state in each condition and the torque level was calculated. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance with post hoc paired t tests.

RESULTS

SER II showed statistically significant differences from the intact state with coronal translation (2, 3, and 4 Nm), sagittal translation (1 and 2 Nm), axial rotation (1, 2, 3, and 4 Nm), and coronal rotation (3 and 4 Nm). SER III showed statistically significant differences from the intact state with coronal translation (2, 3, and 4 Nm), sagittal translation (1, 2, and 3 Nm), axial rotation (1, 2, 3, and 4 Nm), and coronal rotation (3 and 4 Nm). SER II and SER III differed significantly from each other with coronal translation (1, 2, and 3 Nm), axial rotation (2, 3, and 4 Nm), and coronal rotation (1, 3, and 4 Nm).

CONCLUSION

Instability in SER injuries has only been described with coronal translation and suggests that deltoid rupture is necessary. Our data demonstrate instability in SER II/III in sagittal translation and axial rotation as well as subtle instability in coronal translation. The clinical impact is unclear, but better understanding of long-term sequelae of this instability is needed.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Predicting Deltoid Ligament Ruptures in Ankle Fractures

BACKGROUND

Operative indications for supination-external rotation (SER) ankle fractures depend on the integrity of the medial structures. Despite the importance of assessing deep deltoid ligament injuries, the accuracy of common diagnostic tests has not been established.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The objective of this study was to compare the ability of injury (non-stress) and stress radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose deep deltoid ligament ruptures in operative SER ankle fractures.

METHODS

Patients were included who underwent surgical fixation of SER ankle fractures and had appropriate injury and manual stress test radiographs, pre-operative ankle MRI, and intra-operative assessment of deep deltoid integrity by direct visualization. The medial clear space (MCS) was considered positive for all values over 5 mm on the injury or stress mortise radiographs. MRI analysis of the deep deltoid ligament injury was performed by blinded fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Intra-operative direct visualization and assessment of the deltoid was performed using a direct medial ankle approach at the time of operative fracture fixation.

RESULTS

Using intra-operative visualization as the gold standard, MCS measurements and MRI had differing abilities to diagnose a deep deltoid rupture. In cases where the MCS was less than 5 mm on injury radiographs and stress tests were performed, MCS measurements were much less accurate than MRI in predicting deltoid ruptures (46% versus 79%, respectively) with a high false positive rate (80%). In contrast, an MCS measurement of greater than 5 mm on injury radiographs was a strong predictor of deep deltoid rupture (accuracy of 95%).

CONCLUSION

Compared with direct visualization of the deltoid ligament intra-operatively, these data support proceeding with surgery when the MCS on injury radiographs is greater than 5 mm without any additional stress tests or advanced imaging. When the MCS is less than 5 mm, we recommend MRI analysis because of its increased accuracy and decreased false positive rate. Improving our ability to diagnose deltoid ruptures will contribute to more effective management of patients with SER ankle fractures.

Differences in gait and trunk movement between patients after ankle fracture and healthy subjects

Background

Studies have shown that gait asymmetry and activity limitation can persist several months or years after ankle fracture. However, evidence of gait and trunk movement patterns following ankle fracture during the early rehabilitation period is scarce. Thus, we compared gait patterns and trunk movement during the early phase of rehabilitation between patients with ankle fracture and matched controls.

Methods

Ten patients with ankle fractures, and ten age- and sex-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. An automated infrared-assisted, trunk accelerometer-based gait analysis system was used to measure walking speed, step length, and cadence. The median time of the evaluation following ankle fracture was 4.0 months. Trunk movement intensity was evaluated as acceleration root mean square. Trunk movement symmetry and regularity were analysed using the autocorrelation method. Differences in gait characteristics between the patient and control groups were analysed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Follow-up assessment of falls was performed 24 months after the fracture. The correlations between Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) scores/falls and gait parameters were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results

Walking speed (p = 0.019), step length (p = 0.023), cadence (p = 0.003), and trunk movement intensity in anterior–posterior and vertical axis (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively) were all significantly lower in the ankle fracture group than in the control group. Trunk movement symmetry in vertical direction (p = 0.019) decreased significantly in patients with ankle fractures, whereas between-strides regularity did not differ between groups. LEFS scores were moderately correlated with walking speed (r = 0.60, p = 0.044) and step length (r = 0.68, p = 0.021). During the 24 months after the fracture, 3 falls were reported by 3 patients. Trunk acceleration root mean square ratio in mediolateral axis (r = 0.72, p = 0.018) was highly correlated with future falls.

Conclusion

During early rehabilitation, patients with ankle fracture may develop trunk movement asymmetry in the vertical direction accompanied with slower walking speed and cadence, and smaller step lengths, which can contribute to muscular imbalances and potential injury. Thus, proper rehabilitation strategies should be employed for these patients.

The diagnosis and treatment of isolated type B fibular fractures: Results of a nationwide survey

INTRODUCTION

In isolated Weber B fractures (type B fibular fractures), ruling out instability is critical for safe conservative treatment. In fractures without evident medial injury, additional diagnostics like MRI scan or gravity stress test should be done to differentiate between a stable and unstable fracture. The aim of the current study is to gain more insight in current practice and treatment of type B fractures by Dutch trauma- and orthopaedic surgeons.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In December 2017 and January 2018, 559 trauma surgeons were invited by email to join an online survey. This survey consisted of questions regarding diagnostics and treatment of isolated distal fibula fractures. Also, respondents were asked to state their preferred treatment of eight separate cases.

RESULTS

In total, 161 surgeons participated, covering 68 different hospitals in the Netherlands. Of them, 32.0% treat more than 30 ankle fractures a year. Based on regular mortise radiographs, 13.6% of the respondents chose surgical treatment in case of a medial clear space (MCS) > 4 mm, 33.8% in case of a MCS > 6 mm and 45.5% in case of a MCS > 4 mm in addition to the MCS ≥ superior clear space + 1 mm. Moreover, 18.2% make use of additional diagnostics (43.9% repeat mortise view after a week, 16.6% weight bearing radiograph, 8.6% gravity stress view, 7.9% exorotation radiograph, 6.5% MRI scan, 0.7% ultrasound, 16.8% other) and 8% establishes their decision not based on the mortise radiograph. Fibular dislocation of ≥ 2 mm was used as an indication for surgical treatment by 69%. Of them, 56% decides to treat surgically in these cases, even with proven medial stability.

CONCLUSION

Many surgeons treat type B fibular fractures with a MCS > 4 mm at mortise view surgically, even without proven medial injury. Rarely, additional diagnostics as MRI or gravity stress test are performed in cases with a MCS 4-6 mm. Consequently many stable ankle fractures are treated operatively unnecessarily.

Three week versus six week immobilisation for stable Weber B type ankle fractures: randomised, multicentre, non-inferiority clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether treatment of isolated stable Weber B type ankle fractures with a cast or a simple orthotic device for three weeks produces non-inferior outcomes compared with conventional immobilisation in a cast for six weeks.

DESIGN

Randomised, pragmatic, non-inferiority, clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment.

SETTING

Two major trauma centres in Finland, 22 December 2012 to 6 June 2016.

PARTICIPANTS

247 skeletally mature patients aged 16 years or older with an isolated Weber B type fibula fracture and congruent ankle mortise in static ankle radiographs.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomly allocated to conventional six week cast immobilisation (n=84) or three week treatment either in a cast (n=83) or in a simple orthosis (n=80).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary, non-inferiority, intention-to-treat outcome was the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score at 12 months (OMAS; range 0-100; higher scores indicate better outcomes and fewer symptoms). The predefined non-inferiority margin for the primary outcome was -8.8 points. Secondary outcomes were ankle function, pain, quality of life, ankle motion, and radiographic outcome. Follow-up assessments were performed at 6, 12, and 52 weeks.

RESULTS

212 of 247 randomised participants (86%) completed the study. At 52 weeks, the mean OMAS was 87.6 (SD 18.3) in the six week cast group, 91.7 (SD 12.9) in the three week cast group, and 89.8 (SD 18.4) in the three week orthosis group. The between group difference at 52 weeks for the three week cast versus six week cast was 3.6 points (95% confidence interval -1.9 to 9.1, P=0.20), and for the three week orthosis versus six week cast was 1.7 points (-4.0 to 7.3, P=0.56). In both comparisons, the confidence intervals did not include the predefined inferiority margin of -8.8 points. The only statistically significant between group differences observed in the secondary outcomes and harms in the two primary comparisons were slight improvement in ankle plantar flexion and incidence of deep vein thrombosis, both in the three week orthosis group versus six week cast group.

CONCLUSION

Immobilisation for three weeks with a cast or orthosis was non-inferior to conventional cast immobilisation for six weeks in the treatment of an isolated stable Weber B type fracture.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01758835.

Immediate Weight-Bearing Protocol for the Determination of Ankle Stability in Patients With Isolated Distal Fibular Fractures

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate an alternative protocol for allowing immediate weight-bearing (WB) as tolerated in a functional walking boot in patients with a medial clear space (MCS) of less than 4 mm on nonstressed initial radiographs with subsequent WB radiographs at 1-week follow-up to determine if this can differentiate stable from unstable distal fibular fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENTS

Seventy-nine patients who sustained an isolated distal fibular fracture with an MCS less than 4 mm on initial non-weight-bearing radiographs during a 6-year period.

INTERVENTION

Patients with MCS less than 4 mm on 1-week radiographs were treated nonoperatively. Patients with MCS greater than or equal to 4 mm were treated operatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Medial clear space measurements on WB ankle radiographs at the time of radiographic bony union.

RESULTS

Two of the 79 (2.5%) patients had an MCS greater than 4 mm at 1-week follow-up with WB radiographs and underwent operative fixation. The remaining 77 patients were treated nonoperatively. All 77 patients had an MCS less than 4 mm on WB radiographs at the time of radiographic healing.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that our immediate weight-bearing protocol may be an effective method for determination of functional ankle stability only in the setting of an isolated distal fibula fracture with MCS less than 4 mm. However, it should be cautioned that careful evaluation of WB radiographs for joint asymmetry and/or MCS widening is mandatory to avoid poor outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A Novel Indirect Reduction Technique in Ankle Syndesmotic Injuries: A Cadaveric Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel technique using preoperative computed tomography (CT) to plan clamp tine placement along the trans-syndesmotic axis (TSA). We hypothesized that preoperative CT imaging provides a reliable template on which to plan optimal clamp tine positioning along the TSA, reducing malreduction rates compared with other described techniques.

METHODS

CT images of 48 cadaveric through-knee specimens were obtained, and the TSA was measured as well as the optimal position of the medial clamp tine. The syndesmosis was then fully destabilized. Indirect clamp reductions were performed with the medial clamp tine placed at positions 10 degrees anterior to the TSA, along the TSA, and at both 10 and 20 degrees posterior to the TSA. The specimens were then separately reduced using manual digital pressure and palpation alone. CT was performed after each clamp and manual reduction.

RESULTS

On average, reduction clamp tines were within 3 ± 2 degrees of the desired angle and within 5% ± 4% of the templated location along the tibial line for all clamp reduction attempts. Palpation and direct visualization produced the overall lowest malreduction rates in all measurements: 4.9% and 3.0%, respectively. Off-axis clamping 10 degrees anterior or 20 degrees posterior to the patient-specific TSA demonstrated an increased overall malreduction rate: 15.8% and 11.3%, respectively. Significantly more over-compression occurred when a reduction clamp was used versus manual digital reduction alone (8.6% vs. 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduction clamp placement directly along an optimal clamping vector can be facilitated by preoperative CT measurements of the uninjured ankle. However, even in this setting, the use of reduction clamps increases the risk for syndesmotic malreduction and over-compression compared with manual digital reduction or direct visualization.

A Medial Malleolar "Fleck Sign" May Predict Ankle Instability in Ligamentous Supination External Rotation Ankle Fractures

BACKGROUND

Ankle joint stability dictates treatment in ligamentous supination external rotation ankle injuries (LSERAI). Investigation of the medial structures that support the ankle mortise is critical, and a small avulsion fracture, or "fleck", of the medial malleolus is occasionally encountered. This study aimed to assess the utility of this medial malleolus fleck sign (MMFS) in diagnosing instability requiring surgery in LSERAI.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study examined 166 LSERAI at a single level I trauma center. A standardized diagnostic and treatment protocol for ankle fractures was followed. LSERAI at presentation were reported as having a normal, dynamically wide, or statically wide medial clear space. Patient demographics, MMFS characteristics, and the use of operative management were recorded.

RESULTS

MMFS incidence in the cohort was 16 (10%) of 166 and was present in 25% of patients with unstable LSERAI. Fifteen (94%) of 16 patients with a MMFS were deemed to have an unstable LSERAI (P < .005). MMFS had a 25% sensitivity and 99% specificity in diagnosing an unstable LSERAI. For the subgroup of patients without a statically wide medial clear space, MMFS had a 50% sensitivity and 99% specificity in determining instability.

CONCLUSION

A MMFS may be indicative of an unstable LSERAI. With previous MRI studies demonstrating complete deltoid disruption in unstable LSERAI, we deduce the MMFS may be associated with extensive deltoid incompetence. The MMFS may help to diagnose a complete deltoid injury in LSERAI with a normal medial clear space, which could influence treatment and reduce patient morbidity, radiation exposure, and healthcare costs.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level III: Retrospective Cohort Study.

The additional value of gravity stress radiographs in predicting deep deltoid ligament integrity in supination external rotation ankle fractures

OBJECTIVES

Goal of this study was to investigate whether a gravity stress radiograph is beneficial in determining instability in Supination-External rotation (SER)-type ankle fractures without a medial fracture.

METHODS

39 Patients with a SER-type ankle fracture without a medial or posterior fracture and medial clear space (MCS) < 6 mm at regular mortise view were included. A gravity stress radiograph and Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI)-scan were made. The MCS measurements of the regular and gravity stress radiographs were compared with the MRI findings (set as reference standard) to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values as indication for a complete deltoid ligament rupture.

RESULTS

Mean MCS at regular mortise views was 3.11 (range 1.73-5.93) mm, compared to 4.54 (range 2.33-10.40) mm at gravity stress radiographs. With MCS ≥ 4 mm as threshold for predicting a complete rupture at regular ankle mortise views the sensitivity was 66.7, specificity 91.7, PPV 40.0 and NPV 97.0. Gravity stress radiographs with MCS ≥ 6 mm as threshold led to a sensitivity of 100, specificity 91.7, PPV 50.0 and NPV 100.

CONCLUSION

Gravity stress radiographs have more discriminative ability for diagnosing SER-type fractures with or without a complete deltoid ligament tear than regular ankle mortise views.

Results of the Gravity Stress Examination in the Normal Patient Population

In ankle fractures, the result of a gravity stress radiographic examination is clinically used to determine if a patient may need surgical intervention. The purpose of this study is to report the results of a gravity stress examination in the normal patient population. Fifty study participants were prospectively enrolled and complete ankle radiographs were obtained, including a nonweightbearing gravity stress examination. The mean medial clear space in the gravity stress view was 3.6 mm. This compared to a mean medial clear space of 3.3 mm, and 3.1 mm in the anteroposterior and mortise views. These values were statistically significantly different from the gravity stress view (  P = .006 and P < .001, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the talar tilt as measured on the anteroposterior and gravity stress radiographs (  P = .22). No participant had medial clear space widening with gravity stress to more than 5.2 mm or an increase in their widening by more than 0.2 mm. In conclusion, this study helps guide surgeons by providing normative radiographic data for a gravity stress examination and supports the notion that measureable medial clear space widening or talar tilt on gravity stress examination represents an unstable injury.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level II: Prospective.

Medial Clamp Tine Positioning Affects Ankle Syndesmosis Malreduction

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the position of the medial clamp tine during syndesmotic reduction affected reduction accuracy.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort.

SETTING

Urban Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENTS

Seventy-two patients with operatively treated syndesmotic injuries.

INTERVENTION

Patients underwent operative fixation of their ankle syndesmotic injuries using reduction forceps. The position of the medial clamp tine was then recorded with intraoperative fluoroscopy. Malreduction rates were then assessed with bilateral ankle computerized tomography.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

Fibular position within the incisura was measured with respect to the uninjured side to determine whether a malreduction had occurred. Malreductions were then analyzed for associations with injury pattern, patient demographics, and the location of the medial clamp tine.

RESULTS

A statistically significant association was found between medial clamp position and sagittal plane syndesmosis malreduction. In reference to anterior fibular translation, there was a 0% malreduction rate in the 18 patients where the clamp tine was placed in the anterior third, a 19.4% malreduction rate in the middle third, and 60% malreduction rate in the posterior third (P = 0.006). In reference to posterior fibular translation, there was a 11.1% malreduction when clamp placement was in the anterior third, a 16.1% malreduction rate in the middle third, and 60% malreduction rate in the posterior third (P = 0.062). There were no significant associations between medial clamp position and coronal plane malreductions (overcompression or undercompression) (P = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

When using reduction forceps for syndesmotic reduction, the position of the medial clamp tine can be highly variable. The angle created with off-axis syndesmotic clamping is likely a major culprit in iatrogenic malreduction. Sagittal plane malreduction appears to be highly sensitive to clamp obliquity, which is directly related to the medial clamp tine placement. Based on these data, we recommend placing the medial clamp tine in the anterior third of the tibial line on the lateral view to minimize malreduction risk.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Type B ankle fractures: a retrospective study of longer-term outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Ankle fractures are common and can be treated with or without surgery. The aim of the present study was to compare patient reported outcomes between patients who sustained an Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 44-B1 ankle fracture who had either surgical or non-surgical fixation.

RESULTS

Forty-six people were recruited; 38 were treated non-surgically and 8 were treated surgically. Mean follow-up time was 24 and 25 months for surgical and non-surgical groups respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. On unadjusted analysis, there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to any outcome. After adjusting for age and gender, the surgical group had a significantly lower outcome score with respect to the FAOQ. Surgical management was associated with a significantly lower patient-reported ankle function compared to non-surgical management for the treatment of patients with type 44-B1 ankle fracture after adjusting for age and gender. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the general health outcomes or adverse events. Higher-level evidence is required to inform optimal practice for this common fracture.

Weightbearing vs Gravity Stress Radiographs for Stability Evaluation of Supination-External Rotation Fractures of the Ankle

BACKGROUND

Isolated lateral malleolar fractures may result from a supination-external rotation (SER) injury of the ankle. Stable fractures maintain tibiotalar congruence due to competent medial restraints and can be treated nonoperatively with excellent functional results and long-term prognosis. Stability might be assessed with either stress radiographs or weightbearing radiographs.

METHODS

A consecutive series of patients with closed SER fractures (presumed AO 44-B1) were prospectively enrolled from 2008 to 2015. Patients with clearly unstable fractures (medial clear space more than 7 mm) on the initial nonweightbearing radiograph were excluded and operated on. All other patients were examined with a gravity stress and a weightbearing anteroposterior radiograph. Borderline instability of the fracture was assumed when the medial clear space was 4 to 7 mm. Those were treated nonoperatively.

RESULTS

Of 104 patients with isolated lateral malleolar fractures of the SER type, 14 patients were treated operatively because of clear instability (displacement) on the initial radiographs. Of the nonoperative patients, 44 patients demonstrated borderline instability on the gravity stress but stability on the weightbearing radiograph ("gravity borderline"); the remaining 46 were stable in both tests ("gravity stable"). At an average follow-up of 23 months, no significant differences were seen in the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot score (92 points gravity-borderline group vs 93 points gravity-unstable group), the Foot Functional Index score (11 vs 10 points), the Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical component (86 vs 85 points), and SF-36 mental component (84 vs 81 points). Radiographically, all fractures had healed with anatomic congruity of the ankle.

CONCLUSION

Weightbearing radiographs provided a reliable basis to decide about stability and nonoperative treatment in isolated lateral malleolar fractures of the SER type with excellent clinical and radiographic outcome at short-term follow-up. Gravity stress radiographs appear to overrate the need for operative treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, prospective comparative study.

Differences in Classification Between Mono- and Polytrauma and Low- and High-Energy Trauma Patients With an Ankle Fracture: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Although fracture type and treatment options for ankle fractures are well defined, the differences between mono- and polytrauma patients and low- and high-energy trauma have not been addressed. The aim of the present study was to compare the fracture type and trauma mechanism between mono- and polytrauma and low- and high-energy trauma patients with an ankle fracture. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study. Fractures were classified according to the Lauge-Hansen classification and a descriptive classification. High-energy trauma (HET) was defined using triage criteria. All other patients were classified as having experienced low-energy trauma (LET). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the injury severity score (ISS). Monotrauma patients were defined as patients with an ISS of 4 to 11 with an isolated ankle fracture or an ankle fracture with a minor contusion or laceration. Polytrauma patients were defined as patients with an ISS of ≥16 with ≥2 body regions involved. Patients with an ISS from 12 to 15 were excluded. A total of 96 patients were eligible for analysis. Of the 96 patients, 62 had experienced monotrauma and 34 had experienced polytrauma. A significant difference was found between the mono- and polytrauma patients in the Lauge-Hansen classification (p < .001). Monotrauma patients had a high incidence of an isolated supination external rotation injury. Supination adduction and pronation abduction injuries were more often observed in polytrauma patients. The same pattern was observed for ankle fractures after HET compared with LET (p < .001), because all pronation abduction and supination adduction injuries were observed after a HET mechanism. The results of the present study indicate that polytrauma patients sustain different types of ankle fractures than patients with an isolated ankle fracture. This difference likely results from the high-energy transfer associated with polytrauma, because pronation abduction and supination adduction injuries were only observed after HET.

Gravity Stress Radiographs and the Effect of Ankle Position on Deltoid Ligament Integrity and Medial Clear Space Measurements

INTRODUCTION

External rotation and gravity stress radiographs have been described to distinguish stable supination-external rotation-II (SER-II) ankle fractures from unstable SER-IV fractures. It has been previously shown that both external rotation and gravity stress views are equivalent in their ability to diagnose deltoid ligament injury. It has also been shown that the position of the ankle influences the external rotation stress radiograph. However, no data of ankle position exist for gravity stress radiographs.

METHODS

Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric ankles were dissected and destabilized sequentially according to the SER mechanism of ankle fractures, starting with the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament, distal fibula osteotomy at the level of the syndesmosis, posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament, superficial deltoid ligament, and finally the deep deltoid ligament. Fluoroscopic radiographs were taken with gravity stress views in both neutral and plantarflexion. Measurements of both dorsal and the medial clear space were taken for each stage. The difference between the dorsal and medial clear space was measured.

RESULTS

Positive predictive value (PPV) with a medial clear space cutoff of 5 mm was 80% in plantarflexion and 72.72% in neutral with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% in both positions. Using a 6-mm cutoff, the PPV improved to 100% and NPV remained 100% for both neutral and plantarflexion. When the difference measurement is used, a 1.0-mm difference yielded a PPV of 72% and an NPV of 100% in both neutral and plantarflexion. With a 1.5-mm cutoff, the PPV and NPV were 100% for both positions.

CONCLUSIONS

The position of the ankle during gravity stress radiographs does not influence the clinical effectiveness of the images. Using larger references for stability, the PPV can be improved.

A 3-D CT Analysis of Screw and Suture-Button Fixation of the Syndesmosis

BACKGROUND

Historically, syndesmosis injuries have been repaired with screw fixation; however, some suggest that suture-button constructs may provide a more accurate anatomic and physiologic reduction. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in the volume of the syndesmotic space following screw or suture-button fixation using a preinjury and postoperative 3-D computed tomography (CT) model. The null hypothesis was that no difference would be observed among repair techniques.

METHODS

Twelve pairs of cadaveric specimens were dissected to identify the syndesmotic ligaments. Specimens were imaged with CT prior to the creation of a complete syndesmosis injury and were subsequently repaired using 1 of 3 randomly assigned techniques: (a) one 3.5-mm cortical screw, (b) 1 suture-button, and (c) 2 suture-buttons. Specimens were imaged postoperatively with CT. 3-D models of all scans and tibiofibular joint space volumes were calculated to assess restoration of the native syndesmosis. Analysis of variance and Tukey's method were used to compare least squares mean differences from the intact syndesmosis among repair techniques.

RESULTS

For each of the 3 fixation methods, the total postoperative syndesmosis volume was significantly decreased relative to the intact state. The total mean decreases in volume compared with the intact state for the 1-suture-button construct, 2-suture-button construct, and syndesmotic screw were -561 mm³ (95% CI, -878 to -244), -964 mm³ (95% CI, -1281 to -647) and -377 mm³ (95% CI, -694 to -60), respectively.

CONCLUSION

All repairs notably reduced the volume of the syndesmosis beyond the intact state. Fixation with 1 suture-button was not significantly different from screw or 2-suture-button fixation; however, fixation with 2 suture-buttons resulted in significantly decreased volume compared with screw fixation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The results of this study suggest that the 1-suture-button repair technique and the screw fixation repair technique were comparable for reduction of syndesmosis injuries, although both may overcompress the syndesmosis.

A Novel Algorithm for Isolated Weber B Ankle Fractures: A Retrospective Review of 51 Nonsurgically Treated Patients

INTRODUCTION

Stability of isolated Weber B ankle fractures can be difficult to determine. Using weight-bearing radiographs, a reliable method to determine the stability of isolated Weber B ankle fractures is described.

METHODS

A retrospective review of prospectively gathered data was performed. Weber B ankle fractures were defined as stable when having a medial clear space (MCS) of <7 mm on initial gravity stress radiographs and a normal mortise relationship on weight-bearing radiographs. Fifty-one patients meeting these criteria were treated nonsurgically with protected weight bearing and serial radiography for 1 year.

RESULTS

Average functional score results were: American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hindfoot, 93.2; Foot and Ankle Ability Measure for Activities of Daily Living, 93.2; Olerud-Molander Ankle Score, 91.0; and visual analog scale pain score, 0.57. Despite a mean gravity stress MCS of 4.42 mm, no patient demonstrated subsequent MCS widening. Mean MCS on 1-year follow-up weight-bearing radiographs was 2.64 mm.

CONCLUSION

Weight-bearing ankle radiographs are predictive of stability in isolated Weber B ankle fractures. Gravity stress radiographs using traditional measurement criteria may overestimate instability in these injuries. Nonsurgical treatment with protected weight bearing shows good early outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Management of simple and complex ankle fractures

Ankle fractures constitute a considerable part of the trauma surgeon's workload. Although many injuries are straightforward, a high proportion merit surgical intervention. Decision-making depends on recognition of the fracture pattern and its associated ligament injuries. An understanding of the mechanism of injury helps fracture diagnosis as this enables prediction of damaged structures. Fractures in the elderly present difficulties in dealing with poor bone quality, but by modification of technique satisfactory results may be obtained. The mechanism and management of ankle fractures is discussed including current controversies, open fractures and post-traumatic osteoarthritis.