[Treatment of trimalleolar fractures. Is osteosynthesis needed in posterior malleolar fractures measuring less than 25% of the joint surface?].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effect of posterior malleolar fractures, which measured less than 25% of the joint surface, on the results of ankle fractures.


METHODS
The study included 44 patients (21 females, 23 males; mean age 44 years; range 17 to 76 years) who underwent surgical treatment for Weber types B or C ankle fractures. Fibula fractures were associated with deltoid ligament ruptures in 12 patients, and with medial malleolar fractures in 32 patients. Sixteen patients and 28 patients with and without posterior malleolar fractures, respectively, were evaluated as separate groups according to the Phillips' criteria for comparison of clinical, anatomical, and arthritic scores. The mean follow-up was 29.5 months (range 18 to 64 months).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to clinical and anatomical scores. Although the mean arthritic score was higher in patients with a posterior malleolar fracture, it did not reach significance (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that satisfactory results can be achieved in posterior malleolar fractures measuring less than 25% of the joint surface when an acceptable reduction is performed even without osteosynthesis.
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği), Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Usküdar, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hasan
H
Katiöz
Hasan
H
Bombaci
Mücahit
M
Görgeç
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome