Radiologic evaluation of ankle fracture malunions of the fibula.

Ankle fractures involving the distal fibula are common injuries. Malreductions and subsequent malunions of the distal fibula can result in worse clinical outcomes and posttraumatic arthritis. The ability to accurately evaluate and identify malreductions and malunions of the distal fibula is important. A number of different radiographic and CT measurements have been described to assess fibular length and rotation. This review highlights various radiologic measures and discusses their advantages and limitations.

Radiographic Assessment of Fibular Length Variance: The Case for "Fibula Minus".

Given the high prevalence of ankle fractures and morbidity of malalignment after fixation, an appropriate anatomic relationship between the distal fibula and adjacent tibia and talus is important. The tip of the lateral malleolus of the fibula has often been described to be at the level of the lateral talar process. However, no studies to date have examined the relationship of the distal fibular tip to the lateral process of the talus. We assessed 66 weightbearing mortise radiographs for variability of the distal fibular tip in relation to the lateral process of the talus. The subjects were all skeletally mature, with a mean age of 45.3 ± 14.6 years. We used a paired t test with a null hypothesis that the true mean difference in the distance from the distal fibula to the lateral process was equal to 0. The mean distance of the distal tip of the fibula was 0.257 ± 0.127 cm proximal to the tip of the lateral process of the talus. The 95% confidence interval was 0.226 to 0.288. Of the 66 subjects, 65 had the distal tip of the fibula proximal to the lateral process of the talus, corresponding to a negative fibular variance. In the remaining subject, the distal tip of the fibula was at the same level of the tip as the lateral process of the talus. The distal tip of the fibula is most commonly not at the level of the talus lateral process, as often described in published reports. Instead, it has a variance analogous to the relationship between the lengths of the ulna compared with the radius. The distal tip of the fibula in our study was more often proximal to the tip of the lateral process of the talus and can be described as a negative fibular variance, or "fibula minus."

Predicting Factors on Ankle Stability: Mortise Angle and Fibular Length / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of mortise angle and fibular length measured in radiologic findings in predicting the ankle stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred cases fifty cases were randomly selected volunteers with normal ankle function and the other fifty cases were randomly selected patients whose ankle were treated in our hospital and who were followed for over 1 years with good results. A specific experimental fixture were made to get the even AP and lateral view and objective stress view. RESULTS: The mortise angle and fibular length was not statistically significant to the degree of talar tilt angle under valgus or varus stress and that of displacement under anterior or posterior stress. CONCLUSION: The mortise angle and fibular length was not the objective predicting factors on the ankle stability. Maintenance of constrained talus in dynamic status is most important factors in determining the ankle stability.