Biplane reduction technique for restoring the length of the fibula in Maisonneuve fracture

Abstract

Background Fibular length is important for ankle stability; however, there is no unified and effective reduction method for fibular shortening in Maisonneuve fractures. This study aimed to investigate a biplane reduction technique for restoring fibular length in Maisonneuve fractures. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of Maisonneuve fractures between June 2019 and June 2022. All patients underwent a new biplane method to restore the length of the fibula. Operation time, hospital stay, complications, imaging parameters, and follow-up function scores were recorded. An independent sample t-test was used for component comparisons, and a paired sample t-test or one-way ANOVA was used for intra-group comparisons. Results Twelve patients were included in the study. The average age was 32.83 ± 11.46 years, including eight males and four females. No patients were lost to follow-up. The average follow-up time was 15.67 ± 2.84 months. No obvious postoperative complications were observed. In terms of imaging, there was no significant difference in the angle between the intersection of the anatomical axis of the tibia and the superior articular surface of the talus and the tip of the fibula (40.42 ± 0.43 °) than that of the healthy side (40.72 ± 0.57 °). At the last follow-up, the visual analog pain score and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score were significantly improved compared with those before surgery. Conclusions The biplane reduction technique proposed in this study to restore the length of the fibula in Maisonneuve fractures was simple and effective, did not require special equipment, and had the advantage of directly examining the reduction condition.