Weber C ankle fractures with tibiofibular diastasis: syndesmosis-only fixation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate syndesmosis-only fixation in Weber C ankle fractures with tibiofibular diastasis and to assess the need for additional fibular fixation. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with Weber C ankle fractures and tibiofibular diastasis were followed for at least 24 months after treatment. In treatment of the Weber C fractures, only a syndesmosis screw was used through a mini open lateral incision if the syndesmosis could be anatomically reduced and fibular length and rotation could be restored. At follow-up, anteroposterior tibiofibular distance, lateral fibular distance, medial mortise distance and fracture healing were compared and patients were clinically evaluated using the Olerud and Molander ankle scale scoring system. RESULTS: The average duration of follow-up was 49 months and the decreases in anteroposterior tibiofibular distance and lateral fibular distance were statistically significant. At the last follow-up the average clinical score was 86. Ankle mortise was reduced at follow-up in all cases except one, which resulted in a late diastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Syndesmosis-only fixation can be an effective method of treating Weber type-C lateral malleolar fractures with syndesmosis disruption in cases where intraoperative fibular length can be restored and anatomical syndesmosis reduction can be achieved. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a fixação apenas da sindesmose em fraturas do tornozelo de Weber tipo C com diástase tibiofibular e a necessidade de fixação adicional. MÉTODOS: Vinte e um pacientes com fraturas de tornozelo Weber C e diástase tibiofibular foram seguidos por pelo menos 24 meses após o tratamento. No tratamento dessas fraturas, apenas um parafuso para sindesmose foi colocado através de mini-incisão lateral e se a sindesmose pudesse ser anatomicamente reduzida e o comprimento e a rotação da fíbula pudessem ser restaurados. No seguimento, a distância tibiofibular anteroposterior, a distância fibular lateral e a distância medial do encaixe do tornozelo e a consolidação das fraturas foram comparados e os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente pelo sistema de pontuação da escala de tornozelo de Olerud e Molander. RESULTADOS: A duração média do seguimento foi de 49 meses e as diminuições da distância tibiofibular anteroposterior e fibular lateral foram estatisticamente significantes. No último seguimento, a pontuação clínica média foi de 86. O encaixe do tornozelo foi reduzido em todos os casos, exceto um, que resultou em uma diástase tardia. CONCLUSÕES: A fixação apenas da sindesmose pode ser um método eficaz de tratamento de fraturas laterais Weber tipo C com lesão na sindesmose, nos casos em que o comprimento fibular intraoperatório pode ser restaurado e a redução anatômica da sindesmose possa ser obtida. Nível de Evidência IV, Série de Casos.

[The effect of the tibial tunnel fixation level on the results of cyclic loading in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction]. / On çapraz bag rekonstrüksiyonunda tibial tünel tespit seviyesinin tekrarlayici yüklenme testi sonuçlarina etkisi.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the biomechanical characteristics of non-anatomic (far from joint) and anatomic (close to joint) levels of tibial tunnel fixation with soft tissue graft using a soft tissue interference screw in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Twelve bovine tibiae and digital extensor tendons were divided into two homogeneously equal groups after removing soft tissues. Tibial tunnels were prepared with a 7-mm drill with the use of an ACL guide adjusted to 45 degrees . Each tunnel was then dilated to 9 mm in 0.5 mm increments. Digital extensor tendons were fixed at non-anatomic (group I) or anatomic (group II) tibial tunnel levels with a soft tissue metal interference screw, 9 x 30 mm in size. All the specimens were cycled 500 times from 50 to 250 N with 1 Hz frequency in a servo-hydraulic testing machine followed by ultimate load at-failure testing at a rate of 20 mm/min. Statistical analyses were made using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The mean screw insertion torque values were 8.2+/-2.4 Nm and 7.8+/-2.3 Nm in groups I and II, respectively (p=0.88). The mean values of graft displacement (1.9+/-0.75 mm versus 2.2+/-1.2 mm, p=0.63) and stiffness (132.72+/-10.93 N/mm versus 125.14+/-15.93 N/mm, p=0.63) did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical properties of ACL reconstruction with soft tissue graft fixation using a soft tissue interference screw are not influenced by the level of tibial tunnel fixation.

[The effect of anterior or posterior tibial tunnel placement of a soft tissue graft with a soft tissue interference screw on fixation biomechanics]. / On çapraz bag rekonstrüksiyonunda tendon greftinin yumusak doku interferans vidasi ile tibial tünelde öne veya arkaya tespitinin biyomekanik etkisi.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the biomechanical characteristics of anterior or posterior tibial tunnel placement of the soft tissue graft with a soft tissue interference screw in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Twelve bovine tibiae and digital extensor tendons were divided into two homogeneously equal groups after they were stripped of all soft tissues. Tibial tunnels were prepared and digital extensor tendons were fixed at nonanatomic (apart from the joint) anterior (n=6, group I) or posterior (n=6, group II) tibial tunnel positions with a soft tissue metal interference screw, 9x30 mm in size. All the specimens were cycled 500 times from 50 to 250 N at 1 Hz frequency in a servo hydraulic test device, after which ultimate load-at-failure testing was performed at a rate of 20 mm/min. RESULTS: The mean screw insertion torque values were 8.2+/-2.4 Nm and 8.4+/-2.8 Nm in groups I and II, respectively (p=0.88). No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to graft displacement (1.9+/-0.8 mm vs 2.3+/-0.4 mm; p=0.38) and stiffness (132.7+/-10.9 N/mm vs 126.4+/-8.5 N/mm, p=0.98) at the end of cyclic loading. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the site of nonanatomic soft tissue graft fixation in the tibial tunnel (anterior or posterior) with a soft tissue interference screw do not affect the biomechanical parameters in ACL reconstruction.

Weber C ankle fractures with tibiofibular diastasis: syndesmosis-only fixation / Fraturas no tornozelo Weber C com diástase tibiofibular: fixação apenas da sindesmose

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: To evaluate syndesmosis-only fixation in Weber C ankle fractures with tibiofibular diastasis and to assess the need for additional fibular fixation. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with Weber C ankle fractures and tibiofibular diastasis were followed for at least 24 months after treatment. In treatment of the Weber C fractures, only a syndesmosis screw was used through a mini open lateral incision if the syndesmosis could be anatomically reduced and fibular length and rotation could be restored. At follow-up, anteroposterior tibiofibular distance, lateral fibular distance, medial mortise distance and fracture healing were compared and patients were clinically evaluated using the Olerud and Molander ankle scale scoring system. RESULTS: The average duration of follow-up was 49 months and the decreases in anteroposterior tibiofibular distance and lateral fibular distance were statistically significant. At the last follow-up the average clinical score was 86. Ankle mortise was reduced at follow-up in all cases except one, which resulted in a late diastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Syndesmosis-only fixation can be an effective method of treating Weber type-C lateral malleolar fractures with syndesmosis disruption in cases where intraoperative fibular length can be restored and anatomical syndesmosis reduction can be achieved. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a fixação apenas da sindesmose em fraturas do tornozelo de Weber tipo C com diástase tibiofibular e a necessidade de fixação adicional. MÉTODOS: Vinte e um pacientes com fraturas de tornozelo Weber C e diástase tibiofibular foram seguidos por pelo menos 24 meses após o tratamento. No tratamento dessas fraturas, apenas um parafuso para sindesmose foi colocado através de mini-incisão lateral e se a sindesmose pudesse ser anatomicamente reduzida e o comprimento e a rotação da fíbula pudessem ser restaurados. No seguimento, a distância tibiofibular anteroposterior, a distância fibular lateral e a distância medial do encaixe do tornozelo e a consolidação das fraturas foram comparados e os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente pelo sistema de pontuação da escala de tornozelo de Olerud e Molander. RESULTADOS: A duração média do seguimento foi de 49 meses e as diminuições da distância tibiofibular anteroposterior e fibular lateral foram estatisticamente significantes. No último seguimento, a pontuação clínica média foi de 86. O encaixe do tornozelo foi reduzido em todos os casos, exceto um, que resultou em uma diástase tardia. CONCLUSÕES: A fixação apenas da sindesmose pode ser um método eficaz de tratamento de fraturas laterais Weber tipo C com lesão na sindesmose, nos casos em que o comprimento fibular intraoperatório pode ser restaurado e a redução anatômica da sindesmose possa ser obtida. Nível de Evidência IV, Série de Casos.