Objective To evaluate the operative procedure and the cl inical effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of posterior malleolus fractures. Methods Between June 2005 and December 2008, 46 patients with posterior malleolus fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and followed up. There were 29 males and 17 females with an average age of 47.7 years (range, 19-76 years). Fractures were caused by sprain in 17 cases, by fallingin 15 cases, by traffic accident in 12 cases, and by other reasons in 2 cases. The locations were left ankle in 25 cases and right ankle in 21 cases. There were 6 simple posterior malleolus fractures, 13 lateral and posterior malleolus fractures, and 22 trimalleolar fractures, and 5 lateral and posterior malleolus fractures accompanying by injury of deltoid l igament of ankle. According to Lauge- Hansen classification system, 13 cases and 9 cases were rated as supination-external rotation type III and type IV respectively, and 18 cases as pronation-external rotation type IV. According to Naoki’s classification of posterior malleolus fractures, there were 29 cases of posterolateral-obl ique type, 11 cases of medial-extension type, and 6 cases of small-shell type. Seven patients underwent emergency operation and 39 patients underwent selective operation. Results Two patients developed superficial infection, which was cured after dressing change, and the other incisions healed by first intention. Forty-six patients were followed up 37 months on average (range, 18-63 months). All fractures healed after 3 to 6 months (mean, 4.3 months). One patient developed lateral suralcutaneous nerve injury, and 9 patients had mild weight-bearing pain or discomfort. The results of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score were excellent in 17 cases, good in 21 cases, and fair in 8 cases with an excellent and good rate of 83%. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 1.9 (range, 0-5). Conclusion The anatomic reduction and internal fixation can achieve the satisfactory results in the treatment of posterior malleolus fractures. The best treatment and fixation methods should be chosen based on different types of posterior malleolus fractures.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of posterior malleolus fixation on the function of ankle in patients with ankle fracture. Methods Between June 2007 and June 2009, 110 patients with ankle fracture were treated with posteriormalleolus fixation in 59 patients (fixation group) or without fixation in 51 patients (non-fixation group). In fixation group, there were 31 males and 28 females with an average age of 62.6 years (range, 19-75 years); the causes of injury included traffic accident (20 cases), falling (18 cases), and sprain (21 cases) with a disease duration of 1-3 days (2.2 days on average); and the locations were left ankle in 32 cases and right ankle in 27 cases, including 6 cases of type I, 23 of type II, 19 of type III, and 11 of type IV according to the ankle fracture clssification. In non-fixation group, there were 38 males and 13 females with an average age of 64.5 years (range, 16-70 years); the causes of injury included traffic accident (15 cases), falling (12 cases), and sprain (24 cases) with a disease duration of 1-3 days (2.5 days on average); and the locations were left ankle in 22 cases and right ankle in 29 cases, including 8 cases of type I, 16 of type II, 19 of type III, and 8 of type IV according to the ankle fracture clssification. There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results All patients of 2 groups achieved wound heal ing by first intention. The patients were followed up 12-18 months (16 months on average). X-ray films showed that fractures healed at 8-12 weeks (10 weeks on average) in fixation group and at 10-14 weeks (12 weeks on average) in non-fixation group. There were significant differences in the cl inical score (89.28 ± 8.62 vs. 86.88 ± 9.47, P lt; 0.05), postoperative reposition score (33.34 ± 2.15 vs. 31.24 ± 2.89, P lt; 0.05), and osteoarthritis score (13.22 ± 1.66 vs. 12.46 ± 2.03, P lt; 0.05) according to Phill i ps ankle scoring system between 2 groups at last follow-up. There was no significant difference in cl inical score of type I and II patients between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05), but significant differences were found in cl inical score and osteoarthritis score of type III and IV patients between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). There were significant differences in the postoperative reposition score between 2 groups in all types of fractures (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The posterior malleolus fixation may provide satisfactory cl inical functional outcomes for ankle fracture. Proper fracture classification and correct method of internal fixation are important for achieving good reduction and improving the long-term results.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of spring hook plate for posterior malleolus fracture by comparing with cannulated screw. MethodsBetween March 2012 and September 2013, 100 cases of posterior malleolus fracture were treated. Fracture was fixed with spring hook plate in 50 cases (research group) or with cannulated screw in 50 cases (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, associated injury, and injury to operation time between 2 groups P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, union time of fracture, ankle range of motion (ROM), and complications were recorded and compared. The ankle joint function was evaluated by the ankle hindfoot scale of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). ResultsThere was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between 2 groups P>0.05). The patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9.8 months) in the control group and 6-12 months (mean, 9.2 months) in the research group. The X-ray films showed that fracture union was achieved in 2 groups; the union time of the research group[(9.5±1.4) weeks] was significantly shorter than that of the control group[(10.5±1.3) weeks] (t=2.029, P=0.017). The ROM was (25.1±3.2)° for dorsal extension and was (45.3±2.3)° for plantar flexion in the research group at 6 months after operation, which were significantly better than those of the control group[(22.2±2.3)° and (41.2±2.5)°] (t=-3.950, P=0.001; t=-5.212, P=0.000). The ankle hindfoot scale of AOFAS was 85.1±8.6 in the control group at 6 months; the results were excellent in 15 cases, good in 20 cases, and moderate in 15 cases with an excellent and good rate of 70%. The ankle hindfoot scale of AOFAS was 89.4±7.9 in the research group; the results were excellent in 20 cases, good in 22 cases, and moderate in 8 cases with an excellent and good rate of 84%; there was significant difference between 2 groups (t=-2.191, P=0.042; χ2=0.413, P=0.018). Incision infection occurred in 3 cases of the control group and in 2 cases of the research group, which was cured after dressing change; screw loosening and fracture displacement occurred in 3 and 4 cases of the control group, but did not in the research group. The complication rate of the control group and the research group was 20% and 4% respectively, showing significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=6.061, P=0.028). ConclusionSpring hook plate can shorten the time of union, increase the ROM of the ankle after operation, get good functional restoration, and decrease the rate of complication compared with cannulated screw fixation.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of posterior malleolus fractures treated by plate and screw internal fixation through posterolateral approach.MethodsThe clinical data of 95 patients with posterior malleolus fractures who were admitted between January 2016 and December 2019 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analysed. They were divided into plate group (44 cases, treated with posterolateral plate internal fixation) and screw group (51 cases, treated with posterolateral screw internal fixation) according to different treatment methods. There was no significant difference in general data between the two groups of patients such as age, gender, cause of injury, side of injury, ankle fracture or injury classification, time from injury to operation, and percentage of posterior ankle fracture area to the distal tibia articular surface (P>0.05). The operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. Imaging examinations (X-ray film, CT scan and reconstruction) were used to assess the reduction quality of ankle fracture, articular congruity, and re-displacement in ankle fracture. At last follow-up, the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the patients’ pain, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score was used to evaluate ankle joint function.ResultsPatients in both groups were followed up 6-30 months, with an average of 18.2 months. The operation time of the plate group was significantly longer than that of the screw group (U=−2.040, P=0.041); there was no significant difference in hospital stay between the two groups (U=−1.068, P=0.285). Incision swelling occurred in 2 cases in the plate group, sural nerve injury in 3 cases, and traumatic arthritis in 2 cases during follow-up. In the screw group, there were 1, 2, and 2 cases, respectively. The incidence of complications in the two groups (15.9% vs. 9.8%) was not significantly different (P=0.372). All patients who underwent tibiofibular screw fixation underwent the removal of the tibiofibular screw before taking full weight bearing at 12 weeks after operation, and there was no screw fracture and retention. During the follow-up, there was no infection, re-displacement of fracture, delayed bone union or nonunion, and there was no significant difference in fracture healing time between the two groups (t=0.345, P=0.731). There was no significant difference between the two groups of reduction quality of ankle fracture and articular congruity evaluation results (P>0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in VAS score, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and evaluation grade between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionBoth the plate and screw internal fixation through posterolateral approach can achieve satisfied effectiveness in the treatment of posterior ankle fractures with maintenance of fracture reduction, and recovery of ankle joint function. The screw internal fixation has the advantages of minimal invasion and shorter operation time.