Surgical treatment of ankle fracture in the elderly / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analysis the outcomes and the technique of surgical operation of osteoporotic ankle fracture in the elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-eight patients with osteoporotic ankle fracture were treated by surgical operation from January 2003 to December 2008, included 26 males and 102 females, with an average age of 69 years old ranging from 50 to 82 years. According to Lange-Hanson classification, there were 113 cases of supinatio-extorsion, 18 of pronate-extorsion, 5 of supinatio-adduction, 2 of pronate-abduction. The methods of fixation, the complications, and the AOFAS scores after operation were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 128 patients were followed up from 6 months to 6 years (averaged in 36 months). Delayed wound healing occurred in 11 cases (8.6%). There was no deep infection, nonunion of the fracture, and revision. The average AOFAS scores after operation was 83.6 +/- 6.3 (the mean pain scores were 33.5 +/- 5.6, the mean function scores were 40.2 +/- 7.4, the mean alignment scores were 10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Surgical treatment should be the first choice in osteoporotic ankle fracture in most cases. Improved procedures can make the results better.</p>

Treatment of displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus using a small lateral incision approach / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To investigate the operative treatment of displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus using a small lateral incision approach.Methods Thirty-one patients with 32 intra-articular calcaneal fractures,were treated with open reduction and internal fixation through a small lateral incision approach from October 2004 to April 2006.The skin incision was made from the distal tip of the fibula to the base of the fourth metatarsal.According to Sanders classification,there were 21 typeⅡfractures and 11 typeⅢfractures.The first change of dressing was done on the second day after operation.The residual blood clots in the wounds were cleaned as much as possible when the drainage sheet was removed.The operated foot was bandaged with pressure dressing of cotton pad.Results After an average follow-up of 10.5 months(range,3 to 18 months),no soft tissue com- plications were found,and all had acceptable reduction.The preoperative X-ray film showed that B(?)hler angle was 6.84??9.36?,Gissane angle was 106.04??12.03?.The postoperative X-ray film demonstrated that B(?)hler angle was 32.06?+6.87?,Gissane angle was 115.81??9.48?,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).According to the AOFAS evaluation system for Ankle-Hindfoot,two feet scored 60-70 points,nine feet 70-80 points,16 feet 80-90 points and five feet 90-100 points.Condusion The small lateral incision approach is a good option for management of calcaneus fractures,because it causes minimal soft tissue damage,provides excellent exposure,and leads to convenience for later removal of internal fixators and subtalar arthrodesis.