Association Between Bone Mineral Density and Elderly Ankle Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ankle fractures are becoming increasingly more common in the elderly population and present a significant burden to the United States health care system. Many factors have been associated with fragility ankle fractures including age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, tobacco use, and osteoporosis. However, the literature is inconsistent regarding the relationship between ankle fractures and osteoporosis. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly patients with ankle fractures compared with BMD in elderly patients without ankle fractures. A literature search was undertaken using relevant search terms. Articles were screened for suitability and data extracted where studies met inclusion criteria and were of sufficient quality. Data were combined using standard meta-analysis methods. Seven studies were used in the final analysis. A small-pooled effect size was found indicating the control group had increased BMD regardless of measurement used (95% confidence interval 0.09-0.58; I² = 98.39%). Lower femoral neck BMD showed a small-pooled effect size (femoral neck 0.36; 95% confidence interval 0.00-0.73; I² = 94.91%) with the ankle fracture cohort. This is the first meta-analysis to quantify the relationship between BMD and ankle fractures in the elderly population. Elderly ankle fractures showed a significant association with femoral neck BMD. The current data can be used in orthopedic clinics and Fracture Liaison Service programs to assign the appropriate subgroup of ankle fracture patients to investigative and treatment groups, assess fracture risk, and serve as an indication for secondary fracture prevention by stimulating an osteoporosis prevention workup. There may be a role for a team approach to fracture care including metabolic optimization.     

Effect of Obesity on Bone Healing After Foot and Ankle Long Bone Fractures

As obesity has become more common, fractures in the obese population have become more frequent. Concern exists regarding alterations in bone health and healing in obese patients. A matched case-control study was performed at 1 institution to evaluate whether an association exists between nonunion and a high body mass index in metatarsal and ankle fractures. A total of 48 patients with nonunion were identified, and control patients matched 2 to 1 (n = 96) were selected. The control patients were matched for age, sex, and fracture type. No association was identified between nonunion and the continuous body mass index (p = .23) or morbid obesity, with a body mass index of ≥40 kg/m² (p = .51). However, the results from both univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that patients with a current alcohol problem or a history of an alcohol problem might have a greater risk of nonunion. The odds ratio of a patient with a history of alcohol use experiencing nonunion was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 6.2). Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.     

Compatibility of Lauge-Hansen Classification Between Plain Radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Ankle Fractures

We evaluated the accuracy of the predictive injury sequences of the Lauge-Hansen (L-H) classification using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ankle fractures and determined the possible causes of mismatch. Sixty-five patients with ankle fractures who had a complete series of anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique radiographs and ankle MRI studies available were included. The fracture pattern was assigned by 2 senior orthopedic surgeons according to the L-H classification system. The syndesmotic ligaments, lateral collateral ligaments, and medial deltoid complex ligaments were evaluated on the preoperative MRI scans. Comparisons were performed between the predicted ankle ligamentous injury based on the radiographic L-H classification and preoperative MRI analysis. Of the 65 feet in 65 patients, 50 feet (76.9%) were classified as having a supination-external rotation (SER) fracture, 6 feet (9.2%) as having a pronation-external rotation fracture, 4 feet (6.2%) as having a supination adduction fracture, and 2 feet (3.1%) as having a pronation abduction fracture. The overall compatibility of the radiologic classification with the MRI classification was 66.1%. In the evaluation of 50 feet with the MRI SER designation, maximum compatibility was found for stage 4 (77.3%). The main cause for the discrepancy in the SER designation was missing the presence of deltoid ligament disruption on the plain radiographs, especially in the stage 2 and 3 SER fracture pattern. In the evaluation of deltoid complex injuries, all injuries were localized to the anterior part of the medial deltoid complex. The validity of the L-H classification system was low. A new classification system is needed to address the medial malleolus fracture or deltoid complex injuries without posterior injury. Also, stress radiographs could be added to standard radiographs for the classification to address deltoid complex injuries.     

关节镜辅助下手术治疗踝部骨折

目的　对踝关节骨折关节镜辅助诊断和治疗方法进行初步探讨。方法　近 3年来 34例踝部骨折病人关节镜辅助下手术治疗。即常规关节镜检查 ,根据关节镜检查所见 ,对软骨损伤、滑膜炎、韧带撕裂进行关节镜下修复、清理 ,且关节镜监视进行骨折复位和固定。结果　术后随访均 2年 ,根据Must和Teipner临床及X线评定标准优良率达 91%。结论　关节镜辅助下手术治疗踝部骨折重视关节软骨损伤的治疗 ,保证确切关节骨折对位 ,提高了诊疗效果     

Children's Ankle Fractures: Classification and Epidemiology

In an investigation of childhood and adolescence fractures (age groups 0-16) occurring in Malmo during 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975-79, a total of 8682 were found. Four per cent or 373 ankle fractures were classified according to their roentgenological appearance.

Avulsion fractures of the tip of the lateral malleolus were the most frequent, followed by fractures involving the distal fibular physis. Triplane and Tillaux fractures were the third and fourth most common fracture groups. Tillaux fractures were more common in girls (0.01 > P > 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the sexes in the other fracture groups or in the whole series. Most injuries were caused by low energy trauma. A foot caught in a bicycle wheel resulted more often in an epiphyseal fracture of the lateral malleolus than any other type of fracture. Otherwise no other etiological factor caused a significant number of cases in any fracture group.

There was a seasonal variation with twice as many fractures during April and September as compared with July and December. The incidence showed a steady increase during growth which ceased after the early teens due to a lower incidence among girls in the age groups 15-16. The incidence increased significantly during the 30 years covered by this study.     

Factors Affecting Healing of Ankle Fractures

Ankle fractures have been widely described in orthopedic and podiatric studies. These injuries have been associated with significant patient morbidity, infection, malunion, nonunion, and arthritis. Avoiding complications and optimizing outcomes demands an awareness of the factors affecting the healing of ankle fractures. The prognosis of surgical treatment of these injuries has varied according to patient factors or injury severity, or a combination. Cigarette smoking, obesity, and diabetes are some of the factors linked to the prognosis of ankle fractures. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 58 patients treated for an ankle fracture at a single center. The objective of the present study was to comprehensively evaluate the factors affecting the clinical outcome of surgically treated ankle fractures.     

踝关节镜在踝关节骨折治疗中的价值

目的探讨踝关节镜在踝关节骨折治疗中的价值。方法 2009年12月～2011年7月26例踝关节骨折在踝关节镜下探查踝关节腔,清理撕裂韧带、水肿滑膜、损伤软骨,在踝关节镜辅助下复位、固定骨折,修复、重建损伤的韧带。结果软骨损伤部位同时累及胫骨远端关节面及距骨上关节面6例;累及距骨内侧面12例,其中5例同时合并内踝损伤,1例同时合并内、外踝损伤;同时合并外踝及距骨外侧面损伤8例,其中1例同时合并内踝及距骨体部损伤。关节镜下软骨碎片取出术11例,软骨复位固定9例,关节面修整、微骨折术6例;距下关节镜检查示软骨损伤及韧带松弛5例,距跟韧带断裂3例,均在关节镜辅助下行修复重建术。手术时间40～160 min,平均90 min;术中出血量10～300 ml,平均100 ml。术中均无神经、血管损伤,术后无感染病例,切口一期愈合。术后3个月采用改良McGuire评分系统评定临床疗效：优15例（81～100分）,良9例（71～80分）,可2例（65～70分）。26例随访3～24个月,平均9个月,骨折全部愈合。结论踝关节镜辅助治疗踝关节骨折能够精确解剖复位关节面,及时发现、处理软骨、韧带等合并损伤,创伤小,治疗效果满意。     

踝关节骨折内固定及术后康复治疗

目的　探讨踝关节骨折内固定治疗技术。方法　本组 39例踝关节骨折 ,按Danis -Weter分类 ,A型 1例 ,B型 32例 ,C型 6例。采用AO技术 ,加压螺钉、钝钛金属板螺钉及张力带进行内固定 ,术后常规应用下肢静脉泵及CPM治疗 ,随访 5～12个月。结果　 32例 (91. 4% )踝关节达正常活动度 ,功能满意 36例 ,达 92 . 3%。结论　强调坚实内固定与术后止痛、消肿及功能锻炼并用。     

三踝骨折及其手术治疗

从1986年5月～1996年1月收治三踝骨折24例,手法整复6例,余18例经开放整复内固定术治疗。采用螺丝钉固定内踝13例,外踝6例,后踝8例;外踝经克氏针固定5例,克氏针加钢丝固定1例。作者认为三踝骨折是复合性的踝关节骨折,应尽早手术,解剖复位和坚固内固定,才能保证踝关节功能恢复,防止创伤性关节炎发生。本文提出了先外踝,再后、内踝的整复次序,尽早整复固定下胫腓骨韧带联合分离,重视对外踝的正确处理。