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Fewer repeat procedures seen with anterolateral approach for pilon fractures
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CHICAGO — Patients who underwent an anterolateral approach for pilon fracture surgery showed fewer incidences of repeat procedures and less time to union compared to those treated with an anteromedial approach, according to researchers here at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.
“We found that the anterolateral group, while having more complex fractures, require a fewer number of repeat surgeries and had an decreased time to radiographic unions,” Yvonne M. Murtha, MD, said during the presentation.
Murtha and colleagues retrospectively reviewed pilon fracture surgeries performed between 2005 and 2009 and compared the results of 42 patients who had an anterolateral surgical approach, 33 patients who had an anteromedial approach and four patients who had a combined anterolateral and anteromedial approach. The investigators conducted phone interviews of patients to obtain Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (MFA) and Foot Function Index scores.
Yvonne M. Murtha
The anteromedial group showed the highest number of secondary surgeries, while the combined group showed the longest time to radiographic healing. The MFA score was 40 in the combined anterolateral and anteromedial approach group, 35.3 in the anterolateral group and 32.6 in the anteromedial group.
“We found no statistical difference in functional scores,” Murtha said.
Reference:
Murtha Y. Paper #25. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 19-23, 2013; Chicago.
Disclosure: Murtha has no relevant financial disclosures.