ObjectiveTo investigate the operative method and short-term effectiveness in the surgical treatment of Maisonneuve fracture. MethodsBetween January 2010 and February 2013, 23 patients with Maisonneuve fracture were treated. There were 14 males and 9 females with an average age of 40.3 years (range, 30-68 years). The causes of injuries were falling injury in 11 patients, sports related injury in 5 patients, traffic accident injury in 4 patients, and falling injury from height in 3 patients. The interval between injury and operation was 7-10 days (mean, 8.5 days). All of fractures were closed. Three patients had combined injury of deltoid ligament. The surgical procedures included surgical reduction and fixation of medial malleolus fracture and posterior malleolus fracture, repair of the deltoid ligament with ground anchor suture, and fixation of the disrupted distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. ResultsAll incisions achieved primary healing, no postoperative complications such as infection occurred. Twenty-one patients were followed up 24-36 months (mean, 26.5 months). No patients complained of pain, tenderness, and obvious swelling of the ankle. At 3-6 months (mean, 4.6 months) after operation, X-ray films showed bony union of fractures and normal mortises in 21 patients. And no traumatic arthritis was observed with reliable fixation. The range of motion of ankle dorsi flexion and plantar flexion was 30-40° (mean, 34.5°). Baird-Jackson ankle functional score was 85-100 (mean, 94); 16 cases were rated as excellent, 4 as good, and 1 as fair with an excellent and good rate of 95.2%. ConclusionSurgical treatments of Maisonneuve fracture include surgical reduction and fixation of the medial malleolus and posterior malleolus, repair of the deltoid ligament and fixation of the disrupted distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, and good effectiveness can be achieved.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of very low profile/variable angle locking plate (VLP) internal fixation for posterior Pilon fractures extending to the medial malleolus by posteromedial approach. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data from 13 patients with posterior Pilon fractures extending to the medial malleolus between December 2011 and August 2012. There were 4 males and 9 females with an average age of 48.9 years (range, 23-68 years). Fractures were caused by falling in 9 cases and by traffic accident in 4 cases. The locations were the left ankle in 6 cases and the right ankle in 7 cases. According to the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification, 6 cases were rated as type 43B1, 4 cases as type 43B2, and 3 cases as type 43B3. Twelve cases had fibular fractures, including 11 cases of Denis-Weber type B, 1 case of Denis-Weber type C. The interval of injury and operation was 7-14 days (mean, 11.4 days). Open reduction was performed and VLP internal fixation was used for posterior malleolar fracture by posteromedial approach. ResultsPrimary healing of incision was obtained in all patients. Tibial nerve palsy was observed in 2 cases, and was cured after oral administration of mecobalamin. Twelve cases were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14.5 months). According to the Burwell-Charnley's radiological evaluation system, 11 cases achieved anatomical reduction, 1 case achieved fair reduction. The fracture union time was 3-6 months (mean, 3.7 months). No loosening or breakage of internal fixation occurred during follow-up. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale, the results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 4, and fair in 1; the excellent and good rate was 91.7%. ConclusionVLP internal fixation for posterior Pilon fractures extending to the medial malleolus by posteromedial approach can achieve good short-term effectiveness. The high quality of reduction is acquired under direct vision with low rate of soft tissue complications.