Treatment of the trimalleolar fracture by minimally invasive surgical osteosynthesis / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss clinical results of treatment of trimalleolar fractures by minimally invasive surgical osteosynthesis. Methods From January 2002 to Doctober 2005, twenty-eight cases (mean age 38.7 years) of trimalleolar fracture were treated by minimally invasive surgical osteosynthesis. Their lateral and posterior ankle joints were exposed through the Gatellier-Chastang incision. The sequence of reduction and fixation of ankle fracture was firstly the posterior ankle, then the medial and lateral malleolus, and distal tibiofibular syndesmosis lastly. Postoperatively, all the patients were fixed externally from 3 to 4 weeks with plaster splint. Results Follow-ups of 18 months on average revealed that all the cases healed. The healing time ranging from 2.8 to 4.5 months averaged 3.2 months. According to the Baird-Jackson scoring system, the results were rated as excellent in 16 cases, good in eight cases, moderate in three cases, and poor in one case, with the good-excellent rate being 85.7% . Conclusions The anatomical reduction and firm internal fixation are key factors in treatment of trimalleolar fractures. The minimally invasive surgical osteosynthesis is a good method due to the minimal invasion, a high rate of union, and fewer complications it results in.