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BACKGROUND@#Acute ankle fractures can lead to high rate of concomitant intra-articular lesions which may compromise clinical results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of concomitant intra-articular lesions in acute ankle fractures with arthroscopy. We also sought to analyze the relationship between intra-articular lesions and the fracture type, as well as the severity of the fracture.@*METHODS@#It was a retrospective cohort study. From April 2014 to December 2015, we have chosen arthroscopy-assisted open reduction and internal fixation (AORIF) for the treatment of unstable acute ankle fractures. All concomitant intra-articular lesions were assessed and documented carefully and prospectively, such as ligament injuries, osteochondral lesions, and tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries. All fractures were classified according to the Lauge-Hansen classification system. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society's (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale was used to assess post-operative function. Statistical comparisons between the intra-articular lesions, the fracture type, and the severity of the presenting fracture were performed using a Chi-squared analysis.@*RESULTS@#Data of 36 patients were analyzed in the study, including 23 supination-type fractures and 13 pronation-type fractures. The incidence of tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, chondral lesions, and loose bodies were 92%, 72%, and 39%, respectively. Avulsion fractures of the anterior tibiofibular syndesmosis were more commonly found in supination-type fractures than pronation-type fracture (45% vs. 15%, χ = 5.78, P = 0.02), which would cause mechanical blocking in the anterior portion of the ankle. On the contrary, chondral lesions were more commonly found in the more severe fractures than mild fractures (86% vs. 53%, χ = 4.57, P = 0.03). A mean 41.7 months (range, 33.0-51.0 months) of follow-up was achieved. A mean AOFAS's ankle-hindfoot scale was 96.9, and 97.2% of the patients were satisfied with the procedure.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Acute ankle fractures have a high incidence of concomitant intra-articular lesions. Avulsion fractures of the anterior tibiofibular syndesmosis are more commonly found in supination-type fractures. Chondral lesions are related to the severity of the fractures, but not with the classification of the fractures. AORIF can be one reliable solution in dealing with the associated injuries seen with acute ankle fractures.
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Background@#Acute ankle fractures can lead to high rate of concomitant intra-articular lesions which may compromise clinical results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Prevalence of concomitant intra-articular lesions in acute ankle fractures with arthroscopy. We also sought to analyze the relationship between intra-articular lesions and the fracture type, as well as the severity of the fracture.@*Methods@#It was a retrospective cohort study. From April 2014 to December 2015, we have chosen arthroscopy-assisted open reduction and internal fixation (AORIF) for the treatment of unstable acute ankle fractures. All concomitant intra-articular lesions were assessed and documented carefully and prospectively, such as ligament injuries, osteochondral lesions, and tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries. All fractures were classified according to the Lauge-Hansen classification system. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society’s (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale was used to assess post-operative function. Statistical comparisons between the intra-articular lesions, the fracture type, and the severity of the presenting fracture were performed using a Chi-squared analysis.@*Results@#Data of 36 patients were analyzed in the study, including 23 supination-type fractures and 13 pronation-type fractures. The incidence of tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, chondral lesions, and loose bodies were 92%, 72%, and 39%, respectively. Avulsion fractures of the anterior tibiofibular syndesmosis were more commonly found in supination-type fractures than pronation-type fracture (45% vs. 15%, χ2 = 5.78, P = 0.02), which would cause mechanical blocking in the anterior portion of the ankle. On the contrary, chondral lesions were more commonly found in the more severe fractures than mild fractures (86% vs. 53%, χ2 = 4.57, P = 0.03). A mean 41.7 months (range, 33.0–51.0 months) of follow-up was achieved. A mean AOFAS’s ankle-hindfoot scale was 96.9, and 97.2% of the patients were satisfied with the procedure.@*Conclusions@#Acute ankle fractures have a high incidence of concomitant intra-articular lesions. Avulsion fractures of the anterior tibiofibular syndesmosis are more commonly found in supination-type fractures. Chondral lesions are related to the severity of the fractures, but not with the classification of the fractures. AORIF can be one reliable solution in dealing with the associated injuries seen with acute ankle fractures.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Many studies suggest that the gamma irradiation decreases allograft strength in a dose-dependent manner. However, no study has demonstrated that this decrease in strength translates into higher failure rate in meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on macroscopic and histological alterations of transplanted meniscal tissue and joint cartilage after MAT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medial total meniscectomies were performed on the right knees of 60 New Zealand white rabbits. All meniscal allografts were divided into three groups (20 in each group) and then sterilized with 0 Mrad, 1.5 Mrad, or 2.5 Mrad of gamma irradiation. For each group, 5 menisci were randomly chosen for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis and the remaining 15 were prepared for MAT surgeries. Forty-five right knees received MAT surgeries (0 Mrad group, 1.5 Mrad group, 2.5 Mrad group, 15 in each group), whereas the remaining 15 only received medial meniscectomy (Meni group). The left knees of the Meni group were chosen as the Sham group (n = 15). All the rabbits were sacrificed at week 24 postoperatively. Cartilage of the medial compartment of each group was evaluated macroscopically using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score and then histologically using the Mankin score based on the Masson Trichrome staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The SEM analysis confirmed that the meniscal collagen fibers would be significantly damaged as the dose of gamma irradiation increased. At week 24, the overall scores of macroscopic evaluations of the transplanted meniscal tissue showed no significant differences among the three groups receiving MAT surgeries, except for 2 in the 2.5 Mrad group presented partial radial tears at midbody. The ICRS scores and the Mankin scores showed the lowest in the Sham group and the highest in the Meni group (P < 0.05). For the three groups receiving MAT surgeries, the 2.5 Mrad group showed significant higher ICRS scores and Mankin scores than both the 0 Mrad group and the 1.5 Mrad group (P < 0.05). Whereas the 1.5 Mrad group presented similar results to the 0 Mrad group concerning both the ICRS scores and the Mankin scores.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The current in vivo animal study proved that although the meniscal collagen fibers were damaged after gamma irradiation, the failure rate of MAT surgeries might not significantly increase if the irradiation dose was <1.5 Mrad for New Zealand white rabbits.</p>