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Study finds obesity nearly doubles risk for severe distal fibula fractures
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Obesity is associated with nearly double the risk of more proximal distal fibula fractures, which stem from rotational injuries that frequently lead to instability and syndesmotic disruption, according to this study.
After performing a retrospective analysis of the radiographs of 280 patients, researchers found body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m² carried a 1.78 odds ratio for Weber C ankle fractures compared with Weber A and Weber B fractures.
Male gender also had an increased odds ratio of 1.74 for a Weber C fractures vs. Weber A and B fractures, and patient age of 25 years or less had an increased odds ratio of 3.97 for Weber C and B fractures compared with Weber A fractures, according to the abstract.
“We are seeing more severe ankle injury patterns in the obese population compared to the non-obese,” Alan MacGill, DPM, AACFAS, associated member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), stated in a press release from the ACFAS.
“These severe ankle fractures tend to have a worse prognostic outcome compared to others,” he stated.
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In addition to age, gender and BMI, researchers studied results for osteoporosis, diabetes and tobacco use among the patients, but they noted in the abstract that none of those risk factors were significantly associated with the increased severity of ankle fractures among the patients, according to the abstract.
Reference:
King CM. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2012;doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2012.05.016.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
