ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of distal tibiofibular screw fixation combined with ligament repair for the treatment of ankle fracture accompanied with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries.Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis was made on clinical data of 72 patients with ankle fracture accompanied with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries admitted to 909th Hospital of Joint Service Support Force of PLA from September 2017 to September 2020, including 38 males and 34 females, aged 19-65 years [(42.5±12.2)years]. The fracture was type B in 30 patients, type C 1 in 29 and type C2 in 13 according to Danis-Weber classification. A total of 36 patients were treated by distal tibiofibular screw fixation combined with ligament repair (fixation+repair group) and 24 patients by distal tibiofibular screw fixation (fixation group). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle hindfoot score and ankle range of motion (ROM) were determined at 1, 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. Complications were documented. Results:All patients were followed up for 12-22 months [(15.9±2.2)months]. There were no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). VAS in fixation+repair group was (3.1±1.0)points and (2.1±0.6)points at 1, 3 months postoperatively, significantly lower than (3.9±0.8)points and (2.6±0.8)points in fixation group (all P<0.05), but the score showed no significant difference between the two groups at the final follow-up ( P>0.05). AOFAS score in fixation+repair group was (64.7±4.0)points, (73.2±3.4)points and (87.2±3.4)points at 1, 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, significantly higher than (60.1±4.9)points, (70.2±1.9)points and (84.1±2.6)points in fixation group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the ROM between the two groups at 1 month postoperatively ( P>0.05), but the ROM at 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up in fixation+repair group [(44.4±2.9)° and (52.3±2.5)°, respectively] was significantly higher than that in fixation group [(41.4±2.7)° and (50.1±2.7)°, respectively] (all P<0.05). There was 1 patient with internal fixation loosening in fixation+repair group, with the incidence of complications of 3% (1/36). While the incidence of complications was significantly lhigher in fixation group [17%(6/36)], including 2 patients with re-separation of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, 2 with internal fixation loosening and 2 with internal fixation breakage ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with distal tibiofibular screw fixation, distal tibiofibular screw fixation combined with ligament repair for the treatment of ankle fracture accompanied with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries is effective to early relieve ankle pain, improve ankle function and ROM, and reduce occurrence of complications.