title: Treatment of the stress positive ligamentous SE4 ankle fracture: incidence of syndesmotic injury and clinical decision making.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to review our experience with the treatment of stress positive (+) supination and external pattern injuries using shared decision making with the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 1 trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 9-year period, we treated 114 patients (aged 19-76 years, average 43 years) with stress (+) supination and external rotation type fibula fractures, who were included in the present study.
  
  
  METHODS
  X-rays were reviewed, and the medial clear space (MCS) measured on the presentation, stress, and final united radiographs. The decision for surgical or nonsurgical management was made by the patient and surgeon after a discussion of risks/benefits of both. Syndesmotic instability for the operative cases was diagnosed by medial widening and talar subluxation on abduction/external rotation stress after fibular fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  MCS measurement at union.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 114 cases, 54 were definitively treated in a cast, and 60 were treated operatively. Twenty-seven (45%) of the operative cases demonstrated syndesmotic instability on radiographic examination. The MCS on stress examination was statistically different, with greater widening seen for operatively treated patients (4.8 ± 0.5 vs. 6.9 ± 0.86) (P < 0.001). No patient healed with any subluxation on weight bearing x-rays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stress (+) SE pattern fibular fractures with minimal MCS widening on stress examination may be treated in a cast to union with predictable healing. In those patients treated operatively, the treating surgeon should be aware of the high rate of syndesmotic injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tornetta
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Axelrad
authors.forename: Tarek A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sibai
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Creevy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries*; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008022:Ligaments / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology