title: Comparison of the direct and indirect reduction techniques during the surgical management of posterior malleolar fractures.
abstract: The optimal method for the reduction and fixation of posterior malleolar fracture (PMF) remains inconclusive. Currently, both of the indirect and direct reduction techniques are widely used. We aimed to compare the reduction quality and clinical outcome of posterior malleolar fracture managed with the direct reduction technique through posterolateral approach or the indirect reduction technique using ligamentotaxis.
  
  
  
  Patients with a PMF involving over 25% of the articular surface were recruited and assigned to the direct reduction (DR) group or the indirect reduction (IR) group. Following reduction and fixation of the fracture, the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated in post-operative CT images. Clinical and radiological follow-ups were performed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and then at 6 month-intervals postoperatively. Functional outcome (AOFAS score), ankle range of motion, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were evaluated at the last follow-up. Statistical differences were compared between the DR and IR groups considering the patient demographics, quality of fracture reduction, AOFAS score, and VAS.
  
  
  
  Totally 116 patients were included, wherein 64 cases were assigned to the DR group and 52 cases were assigned to the IR group. The quality of fracture reduction was significant higher in the DR group (P = 0.038). In the patients who completed a minimum of 12 months' follow-up, a median AOFAS score of 87 was recorded in the DR group, which was significantly higher than that recorded in the IR group (a median score of 80). The ankle range of motion was slightly better in the DR group, with the mean dorsiflexion restriction recorded to be 5.2° and 6.1° in the DR and IR group respectively (P = 0.331). Similar VAS score was observed in the two groups (P = 0.419).
  
  
  
  The direct reduction technique through a posterolateral approach provide better quality of fracture reduction and functional outcome in the management of PMF over 25% of articular surface, as compared with the indirect reduction technique using ligamentotaxis.
  
  
  
  NCT02801474 (retrospectively registered, June 2016, ClinicalTrails.gov).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China. dr.xiongjin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2283-122X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China. dr.chenyixin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yi-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xu-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.affiliation: Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Si-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yin-He
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Buttress plate; Ligamentotaxis; Posterior malleolar fracture; Posterolateral approach