Malleolar fractures of ankle are usually complex injuries, as they are associated with significant ligament and soft tissue injury—injury to syndesmosis and injury to medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The open reduction and internal fixation is not feasible until recovery of significant soft tissue injury and subsidence of edema. Malleolar fractures are articular fractures and have associated subluxation and dislocation of talus. The aims of treatment are to restore normal anatomy and provide sufficient stability for early movements.
Malleolar fractures more often require open reduction. Our study aimed to know efficacy and outcome of operative management of them.
Materials and methods
From January 2013 to March 2015, 35 patients with syndesmotic ankle injury and trimalleolar ankle fractures admitted to the Government Medical College, Latur, India, were operated and followed up prospectively.
Results
Mean age of patients is 35 years (25–60 years). Fracture union was seen radiologically in 3 to 4 months depending on fracture geometry. We achieved good to excellent results of 90%.
Conclusion
We conclude that malleolar fractures encountered in clinical practice need thorough assessment and meticulous surgical intervention, as they are associated with injury to ligament complex, i.e., ligament is a key structure in the stability of ankle mortise. Abduction and external rotation types of injuries are the most common types to be seen. We achieved stable fixation and performed early mobilization of the ankle joint, which limits the complications of mainly ankle stiffness. Each malleolus has got its inherent associated complications and calls for special attention for identifying associated conditions, such as syndesmotic injury, talus dislocation in posterior malleolar fractures, irreducible ankle dislocation with trimalleolar fracture, and entrapped fibula behind tibia with irreducible dislocation.
How to cite this article
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