Mid-term effects of surgery for sub-acute injury to distal tibiofibular syndesmosis associated with ankle fracture / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the mid-term efficacy of surgery for sub-acute injury to distal tibiofibular syndesmosis associated with ankle fracture.Methods:From July 2014 to October 2019, 14 patients were treated at Foot & Ankle Section, Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital for sub-acute injury to distal tibiofibular syndesmosis associated with ankle fracture.There were 11 males and 3 females, aged from 17 to 61 years (mean, 35.9 years).According to Danis-Weber classification, 6 cases were type B and 8 type C; according to Lauge-Hansen classification, 7 cases belonged to supination-external rotation, one to pronation-abduction, and 6 to pronation-external rotation (Maisonneuve fracture in 4).The syndesmosis injury was treated by fixation with distal tibiofibular screws in 11 cases, by Tightrope elastic fixation in one, by hybrid fixation with distal tibiofibular screws and Tightrope in one, and by distal tibiofibular fusion in one.Postoperative complications were recorded.Their visual analogue scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scores (AOFAS-AH) were compared between preoperation and the last follow-up.Results:The 14 patients were followed up for 24 to 85 months (mean, 46.8 months). Of the 9 patients whose distal tibiofibular screws had been removed (including one with hybrid fixation), wound infection occurred in one after removal of all the internal fixation, distal tibiofibular widening in 2, ankle degeneration in 5 and fibular nonunion in one. Of the other 3 patients whose distal tibiofibular screws had not been removed, screw breakage happened in 2, screw loosening in one and distal tibiofibular widening in one. The VAS scores were significantly improved from preoperative 6.8±0.9 to 1.4±1.3 at the last follow-up; the AOFAS-AH scores were increased significantly from preoperative 35.3±6.3 to 86.8±11.7 at the last follow-up (both P<0.001). According to AOFAS-AH scores, 8 cases were excellent, 4 good and 2 moderate. Conclusion:Surgery for sub-acute injury to distal tibiofibular syndesmosis associated with ankle fracture can restabilize the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and ankle joint, reduce pain and improve ankle function, leading to fine mid-term efficacy.