CT mapping for complex tibial pilon fractures: Understanding the injury pattern and its relation to the approach choice.

OBJECTIVE: To map OTA/AO type 43C3 tibial pilon fractures by means of computed tomography and analyze the difference between varus and valgus fractures. We hypothesized that valgus fractures are less frequent than varus, and the affected zones of the tibial pilon are different among the patterns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study, using images of 73 computed tomographies of patients who had presented OTA/AO type 43C3 tibial pilon fractures. The radiographs and computed tomography were subdivided into two groups: varus and valgus fractures. Also, the presence or absence of fibula fractures. Both groups were subdivided into eight zones: four lateral to the pilon and four medial. RESULTS: The distribution of total affected zones is significantly different in the male and female subgroups (p = 0.027). The incidence of cases in zone 1 is significantly different in varus and valgus displacement subgroups (p = 0.002). In the patients with valgus displacements, 61.9% of the fractures affect zone 1; in the patients with varus displacements, only 25.8% of the fractures affect zone 1. In the patients without fibula fracture, 58.3% of the fractures affect zone 2; in the patients with fibula fracture, 24.6% of the fractures affect zone 2. CONCLUSION: The typical profile of the patient with a pilon fracture is age ranging from 27 to 57 years, male, with fibular fracture, and the injury affecting two or three pilon zones, with zones 6, 1, and 3 being the most affected ones. There is no typicality regarding the valgus or varus fracture displacement, although a difference was found in zone 1.

Böhler's Angle-Comparison Between the pre- and Postoperative in Displaced Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures.

Objective To compare pre- and postoperative variation of radiographic measurements of the Böhler angle (BA) in fractures with two types of deviations: severe and moderate. Methods Pre- and postoperative BAs in 31 calcaneal fracture radiographs were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 4 patients were female (6.5%) and 26 were male (83.9%), with age ranging from 23 to 72 years old, and a mean age of 44.5 years old. Results The results show that the postoperative BA was significantly larger than the preoperative BA ( p = 0.000). At the intraevaluator and overall assessments, the postoperative BA was, on average, 10.6° higher than the preoperative measure. The postoperative angle was, on average, 108% higher than the preoperative angle. In the global assessment, the agreement between evaluators was excellent, both regarding the estimated point value (0.98) and the intraclass correlation (ICC) confidence interval (CI). Conclusion In the global analysis, the postoperative BAs were, on average, significantly higher than the preoperative measurements. The farther from the normal range (20° to 40°) the preoperative angle is, the greater the difference after the surgery. When the preoperative angle was normal, the postoperative angle was, on average, 1.28 times the preoperative measurement. If the preoperative BA was abnormal, the postoperative angle was, on average, 17.3 times the preoperative measurement. It was demonstrated that more severe fractures present better anatomic results when compared with moderate fractures. The present study also confirms a good interobserver correlation for the BA.

Böhler's Angle-Comparison Between the pre- and Postoperative in Displaced Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures / Ângulo de Böhler-comparação entre o pré e pós-operatório nas fraturas intra-articulares desviadas do calcanhar

Abstract Objective To compare pre- and postoperative variation of radiographicmeasurements of the Böhler angle (BA) in fractures with two types of deviations: severe and moderate. Methods Pre- and postoperative BAs in 31 calcaneal fracture radiographs were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 4 patients were female (6.5%) and 26 were male (83.9%), with age ranging from 23 to 72 years old, and a mean age of 44.5 years old. Results The results show that the postoperative BA was significantly larger than the preoperative BA (p = 0.000). At the intraevaluator and overall assessments, the postoperative BA was, on average, 10.6° higher than the preoperative measure. The postoperative angle was, on average, 108% higher than the preoperative angle. In the global assessment, the agreement between evaluatorswas excellent, bothregarding the estimated point value (0.98) and the intraclass correlation (ICC) confidence interval (CI). Conclusion In the global analysis, the postoperative BAs were, on average, significantly higher than the preoperativemeasurements. The farther from the normal range (20° to 40°) the preoperative angle is, the greater the difference after the surgery. When the preoperative angle was normal, the postoperative angle was, on average, 1.28 times the preoperative measurement. If the preoperative BA was abnormal, the postoperative angle was, on average, 17.3 times the preoperativemeasurement. It was demonstrated that more severe fractures present better anatomic results when compared with moderate fractures. The present study also confirms a good interobserver correlation for the BA.

Resumo Objetivo Comparar a variação dos resultados dasmedidas radiográficas do ângulo de Böhler, no pré e pós-operatório, em fraturas com dois tipos de desvio: graves e moderadas. Métodos: O ângulo de Böhler foi analisado retrospectivamente em 31 radiografias pré e pós-operatórias de fraturas do calcâneo. Quatro pacientes eram do sexo feminino (6,5%) e 26 do masculino (83,9%), entre 23 e 72 anos, média de 44,5. Resultados As medidas pré e pós-operatória demonstraram que o ângulo de Böhler após a cirurgia foi significativamente maior do que o ângulo de Böhler pré-operatório (p-valor = 0,000). Nas análises intraobservador e global, o ângulo de Böhler pósoperatório foi, em média, 10,6 graus maior do que no pré-operatório. O ângulo pósoperatório foi, em média, 108% maior do que o ângulo pré-operatório. No global, a concordância entre os avaliadores é excelente, tanto em relação ao valor pontual estimado (0,98) quanto em relação ao intervalo de confiança do ICC. Conclusão Na análise global, verificou-se que asmedidas do ângulo de Böhler no pósoperatório são, em média, significativamente maiores do que as do ângulo préoperatório. Quanto mais distante da faixa de normalidade (20 a 40 graus) estiver o ângulo pré-operatório, maior a diferença no ângulo após a cirurgia. Quando o ângulo pré-operatório está na faixa de normalidade, o ângulo pós-operatório será, em média, 1,28 vez o ângulo pré-operatório; se o ângulo de Böhler pré-operatório estiver fora da