Fracture dislocation of the ankle joint in low energy trauma: Choosing between invasive damage control procedures and closed reduction in plaster

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to identify significant differences in the clinical outcomes of patients who sustained a low energy trauma resulting into an ankle fracture-dislocation, treated with invasive (external fixation or skeletal traction) and conservative damage control procedures (closed reduction in plaster).

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective comparative study including 52 patients with low energy ankle fracture-dislocation, surgically treated between January 2015 and January 2017. Patients included in this study had a minimum 24 months follow-up (range 24–36 months). Patients were divided in 2 groups, group A (n = 21) initially treated with invasive damage control procedures to maintain reduction and group B (n = 31) treated with non-invasive damage control procedures. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically. Clinical assessment was performed by evaluating ankle range-of-motion and the Olerud - Molander ankle score at 6, 12 and 24 months as endpoints for both groups.

Results

Groups were assessed for homogeneity with a chi-squared test, and no statistical differences were found regarding Weber classification, type of dislocation, and Tscherne classification. A significant improvement in the Olerud-Molander score was noted between the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (p 0.01), but not between the 12- and 24-month follow-ups. This improvement was not observed between the 12 and 24 months follow-up. No statistically significant differences in the Olerud-Molander score were found between the two groups at both the 6- and 24-month follow-ups.

Conclusions

Closed reduction in plaster for fracture-dislocations of the ankle joint following low-energy trauma appears capable of maintaining reduction with outcomes comparable to more invasive damage control procedures.