Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma | 2019
Surgical treatment of ankle fracture with or without deltoid ligament repair: a comparative study
Abstract
Objective \nTo compare the outcomes of surgical treatment of ankle fracture with or without repair of deltoid ligament (DL) rupture. \n \n \nMethods \nBetween March 2009 and December 2015, 75 patients were treated surgically at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Honghui Hospital for ankle fracture with DL rupture.Of them, the DL rupture was repaired in 20 (repair group) and not in 54 (non-repair group). The 2 groups were compared in terms of pre- and post-operative medial clear space (MCS), rate of radiological MCS malreduction (MCS>5 mm), rate of surgical failure, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and visual analogue scale (VAS).The outcomes of AO/OTA types B and C were also compared between the 2 groups. \n \n \nResults \nThe 2 groups were compatible due to insignificant differences in their preoperative general data and follow-up time (46.9±22.5 months versus 56.3±23.9 months) (P>0.05).The MCSs after operation (3.3±0.3 mm) and at the last follow-up (3.2±0.3 mm) in the repair group were significantly shorter than those in the non-repair group (3.8±1.0 mm and 3.8±1.2 mm) (P 0.05).The rate of radiological MCS malreduction for AO/OTA type C ankle fracture in the non-repair group was significantly higher than those for AO/OTA types B and C in the repair group and AO/OTA type B in the non-repair group (P<0.05). \n \n \nConclusion \nSurgical repair of the DL rupture may help decrease the rate of postoperative MCS malreduction, especially for AO/OTA type C ankle fractures. \n \n \nKey words: \nAnkle;\xa0Fractures, bone;\xa0Deltoid ligament;\xa0Medial clear space