title: Complications of ankle fractures in diabetic patients.
abstract: Ankle fracture in patients with DM mandates a stepwise protocol to minimize the potential complications of delayed fracture healing, wound complications, and development of Charcot arthropathy. For nondisplaced ankle fracture, a nonoperative approach with increased duration of immobilization seems successful based on experience of the limited series. A displaced ankle fracture in a patient with DM requires a surgical intervention. The authors advocate tight glucose control in both groups to improve the fracture milieu and to ameliorate the potential complications. Appropriate stable fixation with adequate length of immobilization is crucial for successful fracture resolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07103, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bibbo
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Beam
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Behrens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D014945:Wound Healing