Ankle fractures are extremely common orthopedic injuries. There is evidence that the deltoid ligament becomes insufficient in the setting of acute ankle fractures. Whether this finding is clinically relevant to address with surgical repair is a topic that has been debated for years. There is literature documenting the repair or reconstruction of the deltoid ligament dating back in the 1950s, although most orthopedists have adopted the mainstay of treating the fibula fracture without directly repairing the deltoid ligament. This current standard of practice is based on the literature from the 1980s, which itself has not been revisited in the current literature. We present an argument and critique of the literature that supported not repairing the deltoid ligament in the setting of ankle fractures. The deltoid ligament has proven to confer at least some element of stability of maintaining a concentric ankle mortise. At any rate, the literature that supports not repairing the deltoid has significant limitations and needs to be investigated further to provide clarity to this difficult yet common orthopedic injury.
Daly PJ, Fitzgerald RH, Melton LJ, et al. Epidemiology of ankle fractures in Rochester, Minnesota. Acta Orthop Scand 1987;58(5):539. DOI: 10.3109/17453678709146395.
Lindsjo U. Operative treatment of ankle fractures. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 1981;189:1–131. DOI: 10.3109/ort.1981.52.suppl-189.01.
McConnell T, Ceevy W, Tornetta P. Stress examination of supination external rotation-type fibular fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004;86(10):2171–2178. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-200410000-00007.
Duvries H. Surgery of the Foot 1959. pp. 117–118.
Cedell CA. Outward rotation-supination injuries of the ankle. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1965;42(42):97–100. DOI: 10.1097/00003086-196500420-00012.
Kelikian H, Kelikian AS. Disorders of the Ankle. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1985. 497–568.
De Souza LJ, Gustilo RB, Meyer TJ. Results of operative treatment of displaced external rotation-abduction fractures of the ankle. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1985;67(7):1066–1074. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-198567070-00010.
Baird R, Jackson S. Fractures of the distal part of the fibule with associated disruption of the deltoid ligament. treatment without repair of the deltoid ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1987;69(9): 1346–1352. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-198769090-00007.
Harper M. The deltoid ligament. An evaluation of need for surgical repair. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1988;226(226):156–168. DOI: 10.1097/00003086-198801000-00022.
Zeegers AV, van der Werken C. Rupture of the deltoid ligament in ankle fracture: should it be repaired? Injury 1989;20(1):39–41. DOI: 10.1016/0020-1383(89)90043-0.
Stromsoe K, Hogevold HE, Skjeldal S, et al. The repair of a ruptured deltoid ligament is not necessary in ankle fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1995;77(6):920–921. DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.77B6.7593106.
Stewart C, Saleem O, Mukherjee D, et al. Axial load weightbearing radiography in determining lateral malleolus fracture stability: a cadaveric study. Foot Ankle Int 2012;33(7):548–552. DOI: 10.3113/FAI.2012.0001.
Michelsen J, Ahn U, Helgemo S. Motion of the ankle in a simulated supination-external rotation fracture model. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1996;78(7):1024–1031. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-199607000-00006.
Nortunen S, Lepojarvi S, Savola O, et al. Stability assessment of the ankle mortise in supination-external rotation-type ankle fracture: lack of additional diagnostic value of MRI. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2014;96(22):1855–1862. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.M.01533.
Dabash S, Elabd A, Potter E, et al. Adding deltoid ligament repair in ankle fracture treatment: is it necessary? A systematic review. Foot Ankle Surg 2019;25(6):714–720. DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2018.11.001.