This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Deltoid ligament repair comparable to syndesmotic fixation for ankle fracture treatment
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Patients who underwent deltoid ligament repair for bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture experienced subjective, functional and radiologic outcomes comparable to supination-external rotation-4 equivalent ankle injuries treated with syndesmotic fixation, according to study results.
Researchers included 27 patients with radiographic isolated supination-external rotation-4 bimalleolar equivalent ankle fractures who underwent either lateral malleolus open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with syndesmotic fixation (group one) or lateral malleolus ORIF with deltoid ligament repair (group two).
Christopher R. Jones
Results showed 93% of patients in group one and 100% of patients in group two demonstrated maintenance of an anatomic ankle mortise reduction and showed no signs of arthritis at final clinical follow-up. Additionally, the researchers found no significant differences when comparing Lower Extremity Function Scale, Foot and Ankle Disability Index, Shot Muscloskeletal Function Assessment, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, VAS for pain and overall function of the lower extremity scores in both groups.
All of the patients in group one underwent removal of a symptomatic syndesmotic implant, with two postoperative complications that required repeat operative intervention. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts