title: Functional outcome analysis of operatively treated malleolar fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of functional outcome after malleolar fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective call-back review of 40 patients who agreed to assessment 8-24 months after malleolar fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute care hospital/Level 1 trauma center with university-based orthopaedic residency. PTS/PARTICIPANTS: 1) 10 skeletally mature patients who agreed to a telephone request to return for review 8-24 months after isolated malleolar fractures (36 44B2.2, 3 44A2.3, 1 44C2.2). All had healed without apparent complications. 2) Control group of 40 age matched healthy individuals without ankle problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  ORIF with standard AO/ASIF techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ankle score of Olerud and Molander, UCLA Activity Score, Pedometer count of average number of steps per day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients had a mean Ankle Score of 72 (+/-19.3) vs. 100 (+/-0) for controls (p < .01). The UCLA Activity Score averaged 6.0 (+/-1.95) for the patients vs. a mean of 9.43 (+/-1.0) for controls (p < .01). Patients took an average of 4,838 steps per day (+/-3,252) vs an average of 7,607 steps per day (+/-2,859) by controls (p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant impaired function persists for most patients 8-24 months after malleolar fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence 02903, USA.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Belcher
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Radomisli
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Trafton
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries*