Distal radius fracture fixation using WALANT versus general and regional anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundWALANT (wide-awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet) has become a popular technique in upper limb surgery including distal radius fracture fixation. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the effectiveness of the WALANT technique in distal radius fracture fixation, and to compare it to both general and regional anaesthesia.MethodsPubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched on 26/06/21 according to the PRISMA guidelines with the following search terms: radius, WALANT, “local anesthetic”, wide-awake surgery. All studies comparing WALANT with other forms of anaesthesia for distal radius fracture fixation were included.Results110 articles were identified, six studies (410 patients) were included, 164 of these patients were in the WALANT group. Two patients (1.2%) in the WALANT group and seven (6.5%) in the regional anaesthesia group required conversion to general anaesthesia. There was no statistically significant difference in post-operative complications, intra-operative VAS pain scores, operative times, functional or radiological outcomes. A statistically significant 8.6 mls increase in pooled mean blood loss in the WALANT group was noted (p = 0.02) although the clinical significance of this is doubtful.ConclusionThe WALANT technique for distal radius fracture fixation is non-inferior to regional and general anaesthesia. It is a safe and effective technique that surgeons may consider utilising, especially for patients not suitable for general anaesthetic or in centres in which there is a lack of access to specialist anaesthetic equipment and care.     

The association between medial malleolar fracture geometry,injury mechanism,and syndesmotic disruption

BackgroundPrecise correlations between medial malleolar fracture geometry and fracture mechanism have not been thoroughly described. This study sought to determine the prevalence of different medial malleolar fracture types and to elucidate the association between fracture geometry and fracture mechanism.MethodsThe records of 112 medial malleolar ankle fractures were reviewed. For each fracture, the direction of the fracture line in the medial malleolus (transverse, oblique, vertical, or comminuted), the Lauge-Hansen classification, and the presence or absence of syndesmotic injury was recorded. Bivariate correlation analysis was performed to determine if correlations existed.ResultsTransverse fractures were the most prevalent type of medial malleolar fracture [n = 64 (57%)], and they correlated with supination-external rotation injuries. These were followed by oblique fractures [29 (26)], which correlated with pronation-external rotation injuries [29 (26)], and vertical fractures [7 (6)], which correlated with supination-adduction injuries [9 (8)]. Comminuted fractures [12 (11)] and pronation-abduction injuries [22 (20)] did not correlate with any other categories. Syndesmotic injuries were correlated with transverse fractures, bimalleolar fractures, and pronation-external rotation injuries.ConclusionMedial malleolar fractures can be divided into four fracture types: transverse fractures, which correlated with supination-external rotation injuries; oblique fractures, which correlated with pronation-external rotation injuries; vertical fractures, which correlated with supination-adduction injuries; and comminuted fractures, which did not correlate with a particular type of injury. Syndesmotic injury was positively correlated with transverse fractures of the medial malleolus, bimalleolar fractures, and pronation-external rotation injuries. These findings suggest that medial malleolar fracture geometry can provide valuable information for the clinician when classifying and managing ankle fractures.     

Selective fixation of the medial malleolus in unstable ankle fractures

BackgroundWhilst the lateral malleolus appears to be crucial in controlling anatomical reduction of the talus, the role of the medial malleolus is less clear. Medial sided complications including infection, damage to local structures and symptomatic hardware are not without morbidity. This study compares the outcomes of patients with bimalleolar or trimalleolar ankle fractures who underwent fibular nail stabilisation with or without medial malleolar fixation.MethodsFrom a prospective single-centre trauma database, we identified 342 patients over a nine-year period who underwent fibular nail insertion to stabilise a bimalleolar or trimalleolar ankle fracture. Isolated lateral malleolar fractures were excluded. Demographic data, clinical outcomes, radiographic evaluation, return to work and sport, and patient reported outcomes, including Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) were collected.ResultsThis study included 247 patients with a mean age of 66.7 years (range, 25–96 years), of whom 200 were female (81%). Medial malleolar fixation was not performed in 54 cases (22%). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to failure of fixation (p = 0.634) or loss of talar reduction (p = 0.157). No patient required surgery for a symptomatic medial malleolar non-union. Medial sided complications occurred in 32 (16%) of the fixation group, of whom 20 (10%) required further surgery. At a mean mid-term follow-up of 4.8 years (range, 8 months – 9 years) there was no significant difference between the non-fixation and fixation groups with respect to the median OMAS (85 vs 80; p = 0.885) or median EQ-5D (0.80 vs 0.81; p = 0.846). Patient satisfaction was not significantly different between the two groups (85/100 vs 87/100; p = 0.410).ConclusionNon-operative management of the medial malleolar component of an unstable ankle fracture treated with a fibular nail may reduce the rate of post-operative complications without compromising the patient reported outcome.     

The use of the wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet technique in foot and ankle injuries

PurposeAlthough the wide-awake anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique has demonstrated high efficacy, safety, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness in hand surgery, there are limited data on its use in foot and ankle surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the WALANT technique in selected foot and ankle injuries in terms of intra- and post-operative characteristics.Material and methodsPatients with foot and ankle injuries who underwent surgery with the WALANT technique were evaluated in this retrospective study. A total of 31 patients (22 male/9 female) with a mean age of 40 ± 16 years were evaluated for the type of injury, underlying comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA) score, intraoperative visual analog pain (VAS) and anxiety (VAS-A) scores, duration of operation, complications, need for intensive care and duration of hospitalization.ResultsThere were 15 patients with medial malleolus fracture, 5 with lateral malleolus fracture, 5 with Achilles tendon ruptures, 2 with proximal phalangeal fracture, and 1 with Lisfranc injury, medial malleolus + syndesmotic injury, deltoid ligament + syndesmotic injury and fifth metatarsal fracture. ASA I–II score was determined in 27 patients and ASA III score in 4. The mean operation time was 36.6 ± 7 min, and the mean length of hospital stay was 8.3 ± 6.1 h. The median VAS pain score was 1 (range, 0–4), the median VAS-A score was 1 (range, 0–3) and no patient needed further anesthetics during the operation. No patient needed intensive care unit stay and no complications were observed in any patient.ConclusionThe WALANT technique was seen to provide satisfactory anxiety and pain scores, acceptable complications, and a short length of hospital stay in patients with foot and ankle injuries. Simple foot and ankle injuries can be managed successfully with this technique through adequate hemostasis without a tourniquet.Level of evidence: Level III.     

Wide-Awake Anesthesia for Olecranon Fracture Fixation

Introduction: Wide-awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet (WALANT) has come a long way. It has been reported to be successful in the surgery of distal radius and ulna fractures. We report a case of olecranon fracture plating under WALANT. Methods: Surgery was performed with the patient fully conscious where tumescent anesthesia was injected into the surgical site without application of tourniquet 30 minutes before the first incision. Posterior approach to the elbow was used, and the fracture was fixed with anatomical locking plates. Results: The surgery was successfully completed without pain. The numerical pain rating score was 0 throughout the surgery. Conclusions: The use of WALANT for surgical fixation can be expanded beyond the hand and wrist. This is a safe and simple option for patients at high risk of general anesthesia, producing similar surgical outcomes without intraoperative and postoperative complications.     

Wide-awake local anesthesia for clavicle fracture fixation: A case report

IntroductionThe wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique has been used in many orthopedic surgeries. The benefits of this technique are the avoidance of the adverse effects of general anesthesia (GA) and the overall reduction of the cost of surgery. However, a literature search revealed no published report on performing the WALANT technique for clavicular fracture surgery.Presentation of caseWe report a case of mid-shaft clavicular fracture that was treated with plate osteosynthesis using the WALANT technique in a patient with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation. During the operation, the patient did not experience any pain, and the procedure could be performed easily due to minimal bleeding in the operative field. The operation was completed successfully without any complications, and the patient was discharged from the hospital the day after surgery. Follow-up radiographs after three months showed union of the clavicle at the fracture site, and the patient could use his arm normally.DiscussionClavicular fracture is routinely treated with plate osteosynthesis under general anesthesia. In some patients with high morbidity and other risk factors for whom GA is unsuitable, the WALANT technique can prove to be an effective alternative.ConclusionClavicular fixation can be performed successfully and without any complication under WALANT technique.     

Changes in cartilage,synovial cells and synovial fluid after malleolar fractures: What its importance for post-traumatic ankle osteoarthitis?

BackgroundDespite advances in malleolar fractures treatment, the overall risk to develop posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis after 20 years is almost 40%, especially bimalleolar Weber type B and C fractures and fractures involving the posterior tibial rim.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature review of clinical studies targeting the changes in cartilage, synovial cells and synovial fluid after malleolar fractures.ResultsThe acute ankle injury initiates a sequence of biological events potentially leading to progressive articular surface damage resulting from inflammatory changes in cartilage, synovial tissue and synovial fluid.ConclusionA better understanding of the molecular and histological changes induced by acute trauma may potentially lead to novel, targeted treatment of malleolar fractures besides anatomical reduction and adequate stabilization.     

Does functional outcome depend on the quality of the fracture fixation? Mid to long term outcomes of ankle fractures at two university teaching hospitals

BackgroundThe aim of our study was to assess the adequacy of reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures and the long-term functional outcomes of patients treated in two university teaching hospitals by general orthopaedic surgeons.MethodWe performed a retrospective study involving two large trauma units in the UK, reviewing all operatively treated unstable ankle fractures performed in one centre between 1st October 2006 and 31st December 2007 and another centre between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2009. All patients were contacted by postal follow up at a minimum of 6-years using the Olerud–Molander Ankle Score (OMAS).Results261 patients underwent operative treatment for ankle fractures during the study period at the two hospitals. 107 patients responded to the questionnaire. Analysis of patients’ functional outcome by fracture type reveals that the outcome scores decrease as the complexity of the ankle fracture increases. A significant finding within subgroup analysis found that trimalleolar fractures (B3) have worse outcomes than bimalleolar fractures (B2 and C); which in turn have worse outcomes than isolated lateral malleolar fractures (B1). Analyzing the outcome of patients based on the severity of malreduction revealed that Pettrone’s value was inversely proportional to the OMAS.ConclusionWe have found a significant reduction in patient reported function in patients whose fractures were malreduced at time of surgery.     

Posterior Malleolus Fracture Displacement Is Associated with Rotational Ankle Fracture Stability in Patients Without Medial Malleolar Fractures

Background

The optimal method for the determination of ankle stability remains controversial in rotational ankle fractures without medial bony injury.

Questions/Purposes

The purposes of this study were to (1) evaluate whether posterior malleolar (PM) fracture displacement is associated with deltoid ligament injury in supination-external rotation (SER) ankle fractures and (2) compare the diagnostic accuracy of PM displacement and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the deep deltoid ligament in identifying fractures with deltoid ligament incompetence.

Methods

Patients with rotational bimalleolar injuries containing lateral malleolar and PM fractures without bony medial injury were included. After operative lateral and PM fixation, an external rotation stress test was performed to evaluate deltoid ligament stability. Operative dictations were reviewed to confirm injury pattern, stability on stress test, and visual inspection of the deltoid ligament. Maximum PM displacement was assessed on lateral X-ray. Pre-operative MRI of the ankle was performed following closed reduction and splinting.

Results

The final cohort consisted of 13 trimalleolar equivalent fractures (torn deltoid ligament) and 20 bimalleolar fractures (medial malleolus and deltoid ligament intact). Average PM displacement was significantly higher for SER trimalleolar equivalent patterns when measured on lateral X-ray. The sensitivity of detecting trimalleolar equivalent fracture was higher on all reported X-ray findings than the sensitivity obtained by the reported MRI findings of deltoid ligament injury.

Conclusion

PM displacement on X-ray is a useful adjuvant along with external rotation stress radiography and MRI evaluation of deep deltoid integrity to distinguish between stable and unstable fracture patterns and thus helps facilitate treatment decisions.

     

Nonunion of a medial malleolar stress fracture in an adolescent athlete secondary to lateral ankle instability: A case report

IntroductionMedial malleolar stress fractures are relatively uncommon. This report describes the successful treatment of nonunion of a medial malleolar stress fracture due to chronic lateral ankle instability.Presentation of caseA 13-year-old middle school student who belonged to a football club presented to our clinic with chronic medial left ankle pain lasting over a year. He had sprained his left ankle several times 6 years earlier. A plain anteroposterior ankle radiograph showed a vertical fracture line in the medial malleolus involving the epiphyseal plate, and computed tomography demonstrated the vertical fracture seen on the plain radiographs and bone sclerosis at the fracture site. We performed internal fixation for nonunion of the medial malleolar stress fracture with arthroscopic modified Broström for lateral ankle instability. Two years after surgery, the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire improved in all parameters, and both the anterior drawer and varus stress tests were negative.DiscussionEarly diagnosis of medial malleolar stress fracture is important for a rapid return to sports. Magnetic resonance imaging is helpful for early diagnosis. Because lateral ankle instability can cause medial malleolar stress fracture, arthroscopic modified Broström procedure is meaningful for medial malleolar stress fracture with lateral ankle instability.ConclusionInternal fixation and the arthroscopic modified Broström procedure could achieve good clinical outcomes for medial malleolar stress fractures with lateral ankle instability.     

Are outcomes of bimalleolar fractures poorer than those of lateral malleolar fractures with medial ligamentous injury?

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for surgical treatment and expected outcomes differ for two unstable patterns of supination-external rotation ankle injuries. We compared the demographic characteristics and functional outcome following surgical stabilization between the two types of supination-external rotation type-4 fractures: distal fibular fracture with a deltoid ligament rupture and bimalleolar fracture. METHODS: Demographic data on 456 patients in whom an unstable fracture of the ankle was treated surgically were entered into a database and the patients were prospectively followed. Two hundred and sixty-six of these patients sustained either a bimalleolar fracture or a lateral malleolar fracture with insufficiency of the deltoid ligament and widening of the medial clear space. No medial fixation was used in the patients with a deltoid ligament injury. All patients followed a similar postoperative protocol. The patients were followed clinically and radiographically at three, six, and twelve months after the surgery. Function was assessed with the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score. RESULTS: Bimalleolar fractures were more commonly seen in female patients, in those older than sixty years of age, and in patients with more comorbidities. There was no significant association between the fracture pattern and either diabetes or the length of the hospital stay. At a minimum of one year postoperatively, the patients with a bimalleolar fracture had significantly worse function, even after we controlled for all other variables. The overall complication rate, including elective hardware removal, was also higher in the group with a bimalleolar fracture (seventeen compared with nine patients). CONCLUSIONS: At one year after surgical stabilization of an unstable ankle fracture, most patients experience little or mild pain and have few restrictions in functional activities. However, the functional outcome for those with a bimalleolar fracture is worse than that for those with a lateral malleolar fracture and disruption of the deltoid ligament, possibly because of the injury pattern and the energy expended.     

Competence of the deltoid ligament in bimalleolar ankle fractures after medial malleolar fixation

BACKGROUND: The stability of the ankle joint is provided by the medial and lateral malleoli and ligaments. Recent studies of cadaveric ankles have demonstrated that injury to the medial structures of the ankle is necessary to allow lateral subluxation of the talus after fracture. However, cadaveric models are limited by the fracture pattern chosen for the model. We sought to investigate the competency of the deltoid ligament in vivo in patients with an operatively treated bimalleolar ankle fracture. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with a bimalleolar ankle fracture were evaluated. In each patient, the medial malleolus was anatomically reduced and fixed. A radiograph of the ankle was then made with application of an external rotation load to the joint. All lateral malleolar injuries were then reduced and fixed. The radiographs were evaluated for restoration of the competence of the deltoid ligament according to established criteria. RESULTS: Seven (26 percent) of the twenty-seven patients had radiographically evident incompetence of the deltoid ligament after medial malleolar fixation. This finding was associated with a small medial malleolar fragment. CONCLUSIONS: In bimalleolar fractures, the medial injury may be an osseous avulsion, leaving the deltoid intact on the displaced fragment, or it may be a combination of ligamentous and osseous injury with disruption of the deep portion of the deltoid ligament.     

A retrospective follow-up of ankle fracture patients treated with a biodegradable plate and screws

BackgroundBiodegradable fixation implants have been developed to avoid secondary hardware removal. The aim of this study was to retrospectively follow-up ankle fracture patients treated with a biodegradable plate and screws, and to evaluate the clinical outcome and occurrence of complications.MethodsFifty-seven ankle fracture patients treated with biodegradable implants were invited, and a total of 50 were available to participate in this study. The follow-up included a review of each patient's medical records, evaluation of radiographs, fracture reduction classification, and functional scoring.ResultsThere were 36 lateral malleolar and 14 bimalleolar fractures. No perioperative complications occurred. Average follow-up time was 17 months. All fractures healed. Fracture alignment was classified as anatomical in 49 patients and good in 1 case. The mean Olerud and Molander functional ankle score at final follow-up was 86. Eight patients had postoperative complications. These included delayed wound healing in 1 case, 3 cases of deep-vein thrombosis, and 4 soft tissue reactions.ConclusionsAccording to the results of this retrospective study, the biodegradable implants used yielded fracture healing and functional results comparable to those previously reported after conventional metal fixation.     

Adult ankle fractures—an increasing problem?

The epidemiology of ankle fractures is changing. Increasing longevity has resulted in the highest age-specific incidence of ankle fractures being in women between 75 and 84 years of age. the introduction of the AO classification has facilitated analysis of the commonest fracture types. This survey of 1, 500 ankle fractures, seen in a 3-year period in the Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, shows that the commonest ankle fractures are the B1.1 and A1.2 lateral malleolar fractures. Isolated malleolar fractures accounted for two thirds of the series, with bimalleolar fractures occurring in one fourth of the patients and trimalleolar fractures in the remaining 7%. Open fractures occurred in 2%.     

Functional outcome of ankle fracture patients treated with biodegradable implants

BackgroundBiodegradable devices have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of metallic implants especially the need for their subsequent removal, though they have their own drawbacks like poor mechanical properties and tissue reactions. Aim of this prospective study was to access the outcome of bimalleolar fractures fixed with biodegradable plates and screws.MethodsA prospective study was conducted between July 2006 and November 2008 comprising of sixteen patients with unilateral bimalleolar fractures. Fibula fractures were fixed with biodegradable plates and medial malleoli with screws. Patients were followed at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, twelve months and eighteen months. Final evaluation was done using Olerud Molander ankle score.ResultsSix patients had excellent results; four patients had good results and six patients had fair performance. No patient in this series had a poor outcome. One patient had both pain and swelling at 14 weeks postoperatively which settled down with debridement and antibiotics. None of the patients needed implant removal.ConclusionBiodegradable plates and screws when used to fix bimalleolar fracture along with restricted weight bearing, provide satisfactory fracture healing, good functional results and reduce the need of implant removal.     

The isolated posterior malleolar fracture and syndesmotic instability: A case report and review of the literature

IntroductionAnkle fractures are among the most common type of fractures in the lower extremity. A posterior malleolar fracture is frequently part of a more complex ankle fracture and only in rare cases it occurs as isolated injury. Posterior malleolar fractures often occur with associated injuries, such as a Maisonneuve fracture or with bi- or trimalleolar ligamentous injuries. Knowledge about these associated injuries is essential to prevent missed diagnoses. The aim of this article is to describe the isolated posterior malleolar fracture, the possible associated injuries, the diagnostic work-up and therapeutic consequences.Presentation of caseWe present a case of a 26-year-old male patient who sustained an isolated posterior malleolar fracture with 4.5 years follow-up.DiscussionIsolated fractures of the posterior malleolus are uncommon injuries. Diagnosis, treatment and outcome can seldom be extracted from large series. However, several cases have been described in literature, which we have summarized.ConclusionThis case report and literature review shows that isolated posterior malleolar fractures might occur as part of a more complex ankle injury, in combination with a fracture of the lower leg or after high energy trauma. Physicians should be aware of these associated injuries. Diagnostic work-up should include X-rays of the knee and lower leg and a CT scan of the ankle. If diagnosed and treated properly, isolated posterior malleolar fractures have a good long-term functional outcome.     

Ankle fractures in the elderly: what you get depends on where you live and who you see

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine 1) the rate of ankle fractures in the elderly in the United States stratified by hospital referral region, and 2) whether the percentage of ankle fractures treated surgically is affected by factors, such as fracture location, hospital referral region, concentration of orthopaedists, presence of a teaching hospital in that region, patient age, race, gender, or the number and type of specific medical comorbidities. DESIGN: A 20% sample of Medicare Part B claims from the years 1998 to 2000 was analyzed. PATIENTS/INTERVENTION: The CPT codes for operative and nonoperative treatment of isolated medial malleolar, isolated lateral malleolar, bimalleolar, and trimalleolar fractures were identified. These codes were used to determine the overall rate of ankle fractures and individual fracture types. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT:: The rate of ankle fractures was evaluated by hospital referral region, patient age (groups of 5 years, aged 65 years or older), gender, and race. The percentage of surgical treatment was determined for each fracture type as the number of surgically treated fractures over the total number of ankle fractures within each subtype and analyzed by fracture type, hospital referral region, and concentration of orthopaedists in that region, presence of a teaching hospital within the hospital service area, patient age, gender, race, and number and type of specific medical comorbidities. Regression was performed by using the above variables. RESULTS: We identified 33,704 ankle fractures: 7.6% were isolated medial malleolar, 50.8% were isolated lateral malleolar, 27.4% were bimalleolar, and 14.2% were trimalleolar fractures. The overall United States average was 4.2 ankle fractures per 1000 Medicare enrollees. The rate of ankle fractures varied by a factor of 8, from 1 per 1000 Medicare enrollees in San Francisco, CA, to 8.3 in Hickory, NC. The rate of ankle fractures was highest in white women at 5.8 and lowest in nonwhite men at 1.5 per 1000 Medicare enrollees. The overall rate of ankle fractures that underwent surgical stabilization was 33%, ranging from 14% in Binghampton, NY, to 72% in Napa, CA. The rate of surgical intervention was 22% for isolated medial malleolar fractures, 11% for isolated lateral malleolar fractures, 58% for bimalleolar fractures, and 74% for trimalleolar fractures. In regression analysis, the factors associated with nonoperative care after ankle fracture were: older age, female gender, increasing number of comorbidities as measured by the Charlson index, presence of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, and living in a hospital service area that had a designated teaching hospital. Beneficiaries living in areas in which a hospital was a member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals were less likely to receive surgical treatment of their ankle fracture. Increasingly older age was strongly associated with decreased likelihood of having surgical intervention, with each 5 year age grouping progressively less likely to have surgical treatment. The concentration of orthopaedists in the region was not associated with the likelihood of having surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The term ankle fracture involves a wide spectrum of injuries. We found a large variation through the United States in both the rate of ankle fractures and the percentage of those that undergo surgical intervention.     

Ankle fractures. A clinical and roentgenographic stereophotogrammetric study

To analyze postoperative fracture stability and late ankle mortise mobility, 46 lateral malleolar and 53 bimalleolar ankle fractures were randomly separated to either early or late weight-bearing groups and followed for 18 months. Internal fixation with cerclage wires, staples, and pins were used. Better clinical results were found among the lateral malleolar compared with the bimalleolar fractures. Roentgenographic stereophotogrammetric analysis revealed only small movements in the ankle mortise during fracture healing, although a greater dorsal translation and outward rotation of the fibula were found among the pronation injuries compared with the supination injuries. The repair of a ruptured deltoid ligament was not necessary. An increased rigidity of the ankle mortise was found 18 months after injury. Internal fixation with cerclage wires, staples, and pins is a simple and reliable method that provides sufficient stability to allow immediate postoperative weight bearing in a walking cast for most ankle fractures.     

Pathoanatomy of posterior malleolar fractures of the ankle

BACKGROUND: The functional outcome following ankle fractures that involve a posterior malleolar fragment is often not satisfactory, and treatment of this type of fracture remains controversial. Thorough knowledge of the pathologic anatomy of the posterior malleolar fracture is essential for planning appropriate treatment. Thus, we conducted a computed tomographic study to clarify the pathologic anatomy of the posterior malleolar fracture. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2003, fifty-seven consecutive patients with a unilateral ankle fracture with one or more posterior fragments were managed at our hospital. We reviewed the patients' preoperative computed tomographic scans to determine (1) the ratio of the posterior fragment area to the total cross-sectional area of the tibial plafond and (2) the angle between the bimalleolar axis and the major fracture line of the posterior malleolus. Each fracture was categorized according to the location of the major fracture line on the computed tomographic image at the level of the tibial plafond. RESULTS: The fifty-seven fractures were categorized into three types: (1) the posterolateral-oblique type (thirty-eight fractures; 67%), (2) the medial-extension type (eleven fractures; 19%), and (3) the small-shell type (eight fractures; 14%). Two of the eleven medial-extension fractures extended to the anterior part of the medial malleolus. A total of nine of the eleven medial-extension fractures actually consisted of two fragments [corrected] The conditions are not exclusive of one another; for example, in the case of one of the fractures exhibiting two fragments, the fracture also extended to the anterior part of the medial malleolus [corrected] The average area of the fragment comprised 11.7% of the cross-sectional area of the tibial plafond for posterolateral-oblique fractures and 29.8% for medial-extension fractures. In the cases of seven of the nine fractures that comprised >25% of the tibial plafond, the fracture line extended to the medial malleolus. The angles between the bimalleolar axis and the major fracture line of the posterior malleolus varied. CONCLUSIONS: The fracture lines associated with posterior malleolar fractures appear to be highly variable. A large fragment extending to the medial malleolus existed in almost 20% of the posterior malleolar fractures in the current study, and some fragments involved almost the entire medial malleolus. Because of the great variation in fracture configurations, preoperative use of computed tomography may be justified. The information obtained from this study will be helpful for conducting basic research of this condition and for determining appropriate surgical approaches.     

Paratrooper's Ankle Fracture: Posterior Malleolar Fracture

BackgroundWe assessed the frequency and types of ankle fractures that frequently occur during parachute landings of special operation unit personnel and analyzed the causes.MethodsFifty-six members of the special force brigade of the military who had sustained ankle fractures during parachute landings between January 2005 and April 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The injury sites and fracture sites were identified and the fracture types were categorized by the Lauge-Hansen and Weber classifications. Follow-up surveys were performed with respect to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score, patient satisfaction, and return to preinjury activity.ResultsThe patients were all males with a mean age of 23.6 years. There were 28 right and 28 left ankle fractures. Twenty-two patients had simple fractures and 34 patients had comminuted fractures. The average number of injury and fractures sites per person was 2.07 (116 injuries including a syndesmosis injury and a deltoid injury) and 1.75 (98 fracture sites), respectively. Twenty-three cases (41.07%) were accompanied by posterior malleolar fractures. Fifty-five patients underwent surgery; of these, 30 had plate internal fixations. Weber type A, B, and C fractures were found in 4, 38, and 14 cases, respectively. Based on the Lauge-Hansen classification, supination-external rotation injuries were found in 20 cases, supination-adduction injuries in 22 cases, pronation-external rotation injuries in 11 cases, tibiofibular fractures in 2 cases, and simple medial malleolar fractures in 2 cases. The mean follow-up period was 23.8 months, and the average follow-up American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score was 85.42. Forty-five patients (80.36%) reported excellent or good satisfaction with the outcome.ConclusionsPosterior malleolar fractures occurred in 41.07% of ankle fractures sustained in parachute landings. Because most of the ankle fractures in parachute injuries were compound fractures, most cases had to undergo surgical repairs.