title: Arthroscopic findings in acute fractures of the ankle.
abstract: We have evaluated prospectively the arthroscopic findings in acute fractures of the ankle in 288 consecutive patients (148 men and 140 women) with a mean age of 45.6 years. According to the AO-Danis-Weber classification there were 14 type-A fractures, 198 type B and 76 type C. Lesions of the cartilage were found in 228 ankles (79.2%), more often on the talus (69.4%) than on the distal tibia (45.8%), the fibula (45.1%), or the medial malleolus (41.3%). There were more lesions in men than in women and in general they were more severe in men (p < 0.05). They also tended to be worse in patients under 30 years and in those over 60 years of age. The frequency and severity of the lesions increased from type-B to type-C fractures (p < 0.05). Within each type of fracture the lesions increased from subgroups 1 to 3 (p < 0.05). The anterior tibiofibular ligament was injured with increased frequency from type-B.1 to type-C3 fractures (p < 0.05), but it was not torn in all cases. While lateral ligamentous injuries were seen more often in type-B than in type-C fractures (p < 0.05), no difference was noted in the frequency of deltoid ligamentous lesions. Our findings show that arthroscopy is useful in identifying associated intra-articular lesions in acute fractures of the ankle.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel and the Kantonsspital, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hintermann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regazzoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lampert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stutz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gächter
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D050724:Fractures, Cartilage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D017844:Lateral Ligament, Ankle / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity