Functional Outcome Following Fixation of Ankle Fractures (Bi/Trimalleolar)

Abstract

Introduction: Malleolar injuries are the most common significant lower extremity fractures. These injuries gain importance, because the whole body weight is transmitted through the ankle, and locomotion depends on the stability of the ankle. Open reduction and internal fixation have become the mainstay of treatment for most of the unstable bi/trimalleolar fractures, as these operative methods restores the anatomy, biomechanics and contact loading characteristics of the ankle. To study the functional outcome of surgically treated bi/trimalleolar fractures of ankle in adults. Methods: A prospective study of 40 cases of bi/trimalleolar fractures of ankle in adults, managed surgically by various techniques in Chettinad Hospital And Research Institute, Kelambakkam, between June 2018 to April 2019, satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Biard and Jackson's ankle scoring system at the end of six month follow up. Results: In our study we achieved 82.5% excellent to good results, 12.5% fair results, 5% poor results. The results were comparable to other studies.TBW done for many PER and PA injuries showed promising results comparable to that with screw fixation and also lesser reports of skin irritation at the wound site. Conclusion: It is the method preferred for small tranverse fragments and osteoporotic bones of both malleoli especially in the elderly.