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Syndesmotic injuries linked with slightly poorer results in patients with Weber B ankle fractures
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Researchers of this study found patients with syndesmotic injuries who underwent surgery for Weber B supination-external rotation 4 ankle fractures had slightly worse outcomes than fracture patients without these injuries.
Jody Litrenta, MD, and colleagues prospectively obtained data from a previous multicenter randomized trial of 242 patients with this fracture type. According to the study, investigators found 81 patients had syndesmotic instability, which was intraoperatively confirmed after fibula fixation. Researchers analyzed the patients at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks and 52 weeks using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFS) and the Bother index.
A mixed linear regression analysis model which included repeated measures, gender, race and syndesmotic injury was used to analyze and compare the recovery curves for patients with and without syndesmotic injury. In addition, symptomatic hardware and peroneal tendon discomfort data was obtained at 9-month and 1-year follow-up.
At the 12-week follow-up, patients without syndesmotic injury had significantly lower SMFA scores; however did not at any other follow-up visit. During all follow-up visits, patients without syndesmotic injury had significantly higher AOFAS scores and a lower Bother index.
Findings at the 1-year evaluation demonstrated patients without syndesmotic injury had both statically lower SMFA scores and Bother index; whereas no difference was observed in AFOAS scores. The study groups were not significantly different with regard to symptomatic hardware and peroneal tendon irritation, according to researchers. Overall, men showed better recovery outcomes than women. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Litrenta reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a full list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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