Mid-term results of ankle fractures with and without syndesmotic rupture

Abstract

Backgrounds: This study investigated the effect of short term removal of syndesmotic screws on the ankle function after 6 years, as there still exists controversy on the duration of screw stabilization.

Methods: Patients with an ankle fracture who received surgery between 1998 and 2004 were reviewed. One group was composed of patients with an ankle fracture needing a syndesmotic repair with screws. The second was composed of operated patients that did not need syndesmotic repair. The primary scoring used was the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS).

Results: A total of 59 patients were studied with comparable characteristics, with no significant difference on the OMAS after 6 years between the repair group (81.9) and the non-repair group (90.4). On additional clinical scoring groups remained the same. Joint degeneration was seen in both groups (86.7% vs. 55.5%).

Conclusions: Patients with ankle fractures using syndesmotic repair and screw removal after 8 weeks and operated patients without syndesmotic injury have comparable results after 6 years.

Keywords: Ankle; Fibula; Fracture; Surgery; Syndesmosis.