RESUMO
Objective To evaluate factors which maintain the stability of the ankle, and discuss indications for trans-syndesmotic fixation. Methods 12 freshly-frozen cadaver legs amputated below the knee were collected and divided into 2 groups. An ankle fracture model of unconstrained pronation-external rotation was then designed. Group A simulated the injury combined with medial malleolus fracture, and Group B the injury combined with deltoid tear. Ligaments were cut off sequentially to simulate the increasing severity of the injury. Fuji super low-pressure sensitive films and displacement transducers were used to measure the contact area of the tibiotalar articular surface and the width of the syndesmosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS to analyze the relationship of ligament injury and ankle stability. Results In Group A, the articular contact area and the syndesmotic width after section of the deltoid were significantly different from those before the section (P