RESUMEN
Objective To evaluate the treatment of posterior malleolar two-part fractures complicated with medial and lateral malleolar fractures via a combination of posterolateral and posteromedial approaches.Methods From January 2014 to January 2017,26 patients were operatively treated at Department of Orthopaedics,Tongji Hospital for posterior malleolar two-part fractures complicated with medial and lateral malleolar fractures via a combination of posterolateral and posteromedial approaches.They were 10 men and 16 women,aged from 53 to 67 years(average,61.5 years).The surgery was conducted in prone position via the posterolateral and posteromedial approaches to expose simultaneously the fractures ends at medial,lateral and posterior malleoli for open reduction.The lateral malleolar fractures were fixated with plate,the medial malleolar fractures with screws and posterior malleolar fractures with plate or cannulated screws depending on the size of the fracture blocks.The outcomes were assessed using the ankle-hindfoot scores of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) and the visual analogue scale(VAS).Results Of this cohort,22 were followed up for 30 months on average(range,from 18 to 48 months).All the cases healed by the first intension without any infection.Their postoperative X-ray showed bone union after an average of 12.5 weeks(range,from 10 to 15 weeks).No nonunion,loosening or breakage of implants was found.The mean time for walking with full weight-bearing was 13 weeks(range,from 11 to 16 weeks).Their AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores at the final follow-ups were 85.4(range,from 80 to 92),yielding 13 excellent and 9 good cases with a good to excellent rate of 100%.Their mean VAS scores were decreased significantly from preoperative 8.6±0.6 to postoperative 1.7±0.3(f=153.000,P=0.000).Conclusion In treatment of posterior malleolar two-part fractures complicated with medial and lateral malleolar fractures,a combination of posterolateral and posteromedial approaches in prone position can expose and reduce simultaneously the fractures ends at medial,lateral and posterior malleoli,leading to satisfactory clinical outcomes.