The Impact of Surgical Timing After Ankle Fracture on Clinical and Long-Term Patient Reported Outcomes.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of time-to-surgery following closed ankle fractures on long-term patient reported outcomes, fracture healing, and wound complications. To date, little research has been done focusing on the impact "time to definitive fixation" has on patient reported outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis of 215 patient records who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for an ankle fracture from July 2011 to July 2018. A total of 86 patients completed the patient reported outcome measurement information systems (PROMIS) survey at long-term follow-up. Primary outcomes were the rate of delayed union, postoperative wound complications, patient reported outcome measurement information system (PROMIS) pain interference (PI), and physical function (PF) scores. No differences were found when comparing time to surgery on a continuous scale with rates of delayed union, nonunion, or wound complications (p = .84, .47, and .63, respectively). PROMIS scores were collected at a median of 4.5 years (2.0 interquartile range (IQR), range 2.5-12.3) postoperatively. The time from ankle fracture to surgery was independently associated with worse PROMIS PI scores (unstandardized ß 0.38, 95% CI 0.07-0.68) but not PROMIS PF scores. Severe Lauge-Hansen injuries were independently associated with decreased PROMIS PF scores (unstandardized ß -7.02, 95% CI -12.0 to -2.04). Increased time to surgical intervention and severe Lauge-Hansen injuries were independently associated with worse long-term patient reported outcomes. Surgical timing did not impact union rates or wound complications. Surgeons should be aware that delaying ankle fracture repair beyond 12 days after injury may negatively affect long-term patient reported pain scores.

Syndesmosis Injuries in Lateral Malleolar Fractures Accompanied by a Posterior Malleolar Fracture: A Nonfixed Posterior Fracture Fragment May Not Affect Postoperative Tibiofibular Joint Malreduction Rates.

BACKGROUND: The fact that lateral malleolar fracture is accompanied by posterior malleolar fracture may adversely affect syndesmosis malreduction rates. We aimed to compare syndesmosis malreduction rates determined on postoperative radiographs between isolated lateral malleolar fractures and lateral malleolar fractures accompanied by posterior malleolar fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 128 operative patients: 73 with isolated lateral malleolar fractures (group L) and 55 with lateral + posterior malleolar fractures (group LP). In group LP, no patients received posterior fragment fixation. In both groups, indirect syndesmosis fixation was performed with a single screw after open reduction and internal fixation of the lateral malleolus. Patient age, sex, fracture side, fracture type (Lauge-Hansen and Danis-Weber classifications), Kellgren-Lawrence osteoarthritis classification, syndesmotic incongruency on postoperative radiographs, syndesmotic malreduction of postoperative fibula fracture, fracture union time, complication rates, accompanying injuries, and preoperative and postoperative radiographic syndesmotic measurements (tibiofibular overlap, tibiofibular clear space, medial clear space) were recorded, and the groups were compared. RESULTS: Mean ± SD age was 44.32 ± 15.66 years in group L and 48.93 ± 14.03 years in group LP (P = .087). There were no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative tibiofibular distance, tibiofibular overlap, and medial clear space values between groups (P > .05). The prevalence of grade 2 fractures according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification was significantly higher in group LP (P = .047). Postoperative syndesmosis malreduction was detected in 12 patients in group L and in nine in group LP (P = .991). CONCLUSIONS: In lateral malleolar fractures accompanied by small-fragment posterolateral or avulsion-type posterior malleolar fractures, closed syndesmotic screw fixation does not cause syndesmosis malreduction.

Factors Associated With Wound- and Implant-Related Complications After Surgical Treatment of Ankle Fractures.

We have described the epidemiology of complications after surgical treatment of ankle fractures and assessed which factors are associated with the most frequent complications. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at 2 level 2 and 1 level 1 trauma center in a single trauma region in the Netherlands. The study variables were collected from the electronic medical patient records; all ankle fractures were classified using the Lauge-Hansen classification, and the complications were recorded. A total of 989 patients were included from 3 hospitals, with 173 complications in 156 patients (15.8%). The most frequent complication was wound related, occurring in 101 patients (10.2%). Implant-related complications occurred in 44 patients (4.4%). Other complications, such as cast pressure spots, posttraumatic dystrophy, nonunion, impingement, and pneumonia occurred in 28 patients (2.8%). The 2 most important complications were further analyzed for risk factors. Multivariate analysis showed the risk factors for wound-related complications were advanced age, increased American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, smoking, right side symptomatic, open fracture, and initial external fixation. Most implant-related complications were caused by malreduction (n = 22) or untreated syndesmotic injury (n = 19). Malreduction was associated with supination eversion fractures (p = .059), and untreated syndesmotic injury occurred more often with pronation external rotation fractures (p < .001). The most frequent complications after ankle fracture surgery were wound- and implant-related complications. Postoperative wound-related complications were multifactorial and dependent on a combination of trauma-, patient-, and treatment-related factors. In contrast, implant-related complications resulted from the interaction between the fracture type and subsequent surgical treatment.

Minimally Invasive Treatment of Ankle Fractures in Patients at High Risk of Soft Tissue Wound Healing Complications.

The complex nature of ankle fractures is magnified when seen in patients at high risk of soft tissue wound healing complications. The major categories include associated soft tissue injury, diabetes, tobacco use, peripheral vascular disease, malnutrition, alcoholism, and corticosteroid use. Because of the potential for wound dehiscence and infection with open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures in these patients, minimally invasive procedures have been described. The aims of the present study were to assess the possibility for, and evaluate the results and complications of, minimally invasive techniques for different types of malleolar fractures in high-risk patients. We report the clinical results of 47 high-risk patients who presented with malleolar fractures from January 2007 to December 2012 and underwent minimally invasive reduction and fixation. One patient (0.5%) developed a superficial infection; however, none of the patients displayed wound dehiscence or deep infection. Five patients (10.6%) required open reduction because of intraoperative failure to achieve anatomic reduction. Using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale, 15 of the patients (36%) treated with minimally invasive techniques experienced an excellent outcome. In contrast, 23 patients (55%) had a good, 3 (7%) a fair, and 1 (2.5%) a poor outcome. The results of our study have shown that minimally invasive fixation appears to be a satisfactory method for the management of malleolar fractures in high-risk patients and could be helpful in the avoidance of the complications associated with conventional open reduction and internal fixation.

Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment of Displaced Ankle Fractures in Diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a risk factor for complications related to displaced ankle fractures. Limited literature exists comparing complication rates in nonoperative versus operative treatment of displaced ankle fractures in diabetics. No study has highlighted the natural history of nonoperative treatment of displaced ankle fractures in diabetics. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all adult ankle fractures from September 2011 through December 2014. Inclusion was limited to ambulatory adults (>18 years) with closed, displaced (widened mortise) ankle fractures with diabetes mellitus. Nonoperative treatment consisted of closed reduction and casting. Fractures were classified according to the Lauge-Hansen and AO-Weber classification systems. All operative fractures underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) within 3 weeks of injury. Functional outcomes and complication rates were compared. Of 28 displaced diabetic ankle fractures, 20 were treated nonoperatively (closed reduction and casting) and 8 operatively (ORIF within 3 weeks of injury). Mean follow-up was 7 months (range 3-18 months). RESULTS: Age, insulin-dependent diabetes, and AO type B fracture rate were similar in nonoperative and operative cohorts, but fracture dislocation rate was significantly higher among operative fractures (87.5% vs 40%; P = .04). Nonoperative treatment was associated with a 21-fold increased odds of complication compared with operative treatment (75% vs 12.5%, OR 21.0, P = .004). Complication rate following unintended ORIF for persistent nonunion or malunion in nonoperatively treated patients was significantly greater compared with immediate ORIF (100% vs 12.5%, P = .005). CONCLUSION: Nonoperative treatment of displaced diabetic ankle fractures was associated with unacceptably high complication rates when compared to operative treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative series.

[Anterior dislocation of the fibula resulting from surgical malreduction: a case report].

Ankle joint fracture is one of the most common types of fracture. There are many researches on the injury mechanism, treatment principles and surgical techniques. A type of injury which combines posterior dislocation of fibula, known as the Bosworth injury, is relatively rare. In 1947, Bosworth first described this type of injury as an unusual ankle fracture dislocation with fixed posterior fracture dislocation of the distal part of the fibula. In this type of fracture, the proximal fibular shaft fragment locks behind the tibialis posterior tubercle. This rare ankle fracture variant is often not recognized in initial radiographs and requires a computed tomographic (CT) scan for verification. But there are already many reports, discussing the injury mechanism, treatment principles and surgical techniques. However, there are few reports of anterior dislocation of the fibula, caused by either injury or surgery. The mechanism of the injury is still not clear. This article reports a case of anterior dislocation of the fibula. We report a patient with left ankle open fracture (Lauge-Hansen pronation-external rotation stage III, Gustilo IIIA). Open reduction and internal fixation was done in the initial surgery, but ended up with poor reduction, resulting in fibula anterior dislocation, anterior dislocation of talus and tibia fibular dislocation. The fibula was dislocated anteriorly of the tibia, which rarely happened. The patient suffered severe ankle joint dysfunction. The second operation took out the original internal fixation, reduced the fracture, and reset the internal fixation. The function of ankle joint was improved obviously after operation. But because of the initial injury and the two operations, the soft tissue around the fracture was greatly damaged. 6 months after the second operation, and the fracture still not healed, so the bone graft was carried out in the third surgery. Two months after the third surgery, the function of the ankle was significantly better than before, but the fracture healing was poor, which needed further review. Through this case, we understand the rare type of ankle fracture with anterior dislocation of the fibula, and recognize that the timing and quality of initial surgery has a great impact on the patient's prognosis and rehabilitation period.

Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis for ankle fractures: a prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard for the surgical management of ankle fractures is through open reduction and internal fixation. The rate of wound problems has been reported to be as high as 18%, especially in patients with poor vascular supply or in diabetics. Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) has been described as a potential solution for these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational cohort study. From October 2009 to February 2010, and following ethical approval of our research, adult patients admitted at our level I trauma center with a closed lateral malleolar displaced unstable fracture (Lauge-Hansen supination-external rotation) with or without a medial-sided injury and patients with an undisplaced fracture associated with medial clear space opening on external rotation stress radiographs were recruited and managed using MIPPO technique. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months post-surgery (12-20 with a mean of 16.5 months). Trauma mechanism, comorbidities, classifications, trauma-surgery interval, image intensifier duration, surgery duration, complications, and function American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were recruited of which 20 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (16 females, 4 males) and were available for follow-up. Ten fractures (50%) were classified as 44-B1, 7 fractures (35%) as 44-B2, and 3 fractures (15%) as 44-B3 according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification (100% were supination-external rotation injuries). At 8 weeks post-surgery, all fractures had healed. The duration of surgery ranged between 15 and 73 min (average 32.8) from skin incision to closure. There were 2 complications (1 malunion and 1 skin necrosis requiring implant removal). At 12-month follow-up, AOFAS average was 88.3 (72-100 standard deviation of 6.8 points). CONCLUSION: MIPPO technique proved to be a viable option for lateral malleolar fracture treatment with a low complication rate and high functional outcome at 1 year. It is particularly useful in patients with a high risk of wound complication.

The ANK device: a new approach in the treatment of the fractures of the lateral malleolus associated with the rupture of the syndesmosis.

The ANK device was developed for the treatment of fractures of the lateral malleolus occurring with rupture of the syndesmosis. While it provides the anatomic reduction of the fracture and the syndesmosis, it allows the physiologic movements of the fibula. It is not used for comminuted fractures of the lateral malleolus and in cases where fibular medullary canal is narrow. We included forty-nine patients who had the ANK device applied and at least 2 years follow-up. The mean follow-up was 41 months (range 24-124). The fractures were evaluated according to the Lauge-Hansen classification; 25 cases were evaluated as supination-external rotation, 11 cases were pronation-abduction, and 13 cases were pronation-external rotation type fractures. There were also 46 fractures of the medial malleolus and three ruptures of the deltoid ligament. Twenty-nine (59,2%) patients were evaluated as excellent, 12 (24,5%) as good, 5 (10.2%) as fair and 3 (6.1%) as poor. Arthrosis was observed in 3 (6.1%) of the patients.