Open reduction fixation for treating ankle joint fractures：a wire anchor in the repair of triangular ligament injury / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Ankle joint fracture combined with triangular ligament injury is a common type of injury, and is easy to have an impact on the anatomy of the ankle joint, leading to the occurrence of joint instability; the treatment is extremely easy to lead to a variety of complications. For injured triangular ligament, it is controversial whether it is necessary to repair in the clinic. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of a wire anchor for repairing triangular ligament in ankle joint fracture fixation. METHODS:The clinical data of 36 cases of ankle fractures combined with triangular ligament injury, who were treated in the Department of Orthopedics of the Seventh People’s Hospital of Zibo City from May 2013 to May 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. The ankle fractures combined with triangular ligament injury were treated with open reduction plate fixation. The patients were folowed up for 12 months. The recovery of ankle joint function was evaluated with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and foot function score. Gravity stress X-ray examination was performed before and after treatment. Space of medial maleolus was measured. Adverse events were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The patients were folowed up 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. AOFAS score of the ankle joint was increased and significantly higher at 12 months than that before surgery (P< 0.05). Gravity stress X-ray examination revealed that the space of medial maleolus of the affected side was smaler at 12 months than that before treatment (P < 0.05). No injuries to nerves and blood vessels were found during surgery, and the incision was healed in the first stage, and no infection was observed. Adverse events such as fixator breakage and loosening were not visible. However, partial function of the ankle joint was limited after repair in triangular ligament injury. Results confirmed that open reduction and internal fixation combined with a wire anchor obtained good effects in the repair of ankle joint fracture with triangular ligament injury.