title: Comparison between carbon-peek plate and conventional stainless steal plate in ankle fractures. A prospective study of two years follow up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study is to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of the treatment of distal fibular fracture with the traditional stainless steel or the new radiolucent CFR-PEEK plates. The hypothesis is that there are no differences in clinical and radiological outcomes at the final follow-up between the two fixation devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients aged from 18 or over, who had undergone operative treatment for malleolar fracture between 2013 and 2014, have been included in the study. 87 were available for the study. The patients were assigned to group A (47 patients, radiolucent plate group) and group B (41 patients, stainless steal plate group). At 6, 12 and 24 months all patients were prospectively reviewed with radiographic and clinical evaluations (OMAS scale, AOFAS, VAS, ROM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were homogenous with regard to age, gender, BMI, dominance and disease duration. The mean follow-up was 23+/-2 months. The mean waiting time to operation was 2.94days (SD 2.74) (range 0.2-6.8). Statistical analysis showed no difference (p>0.05) about the VAS, OMAS, AOFAS and ROM evaluation at 6, 12 and 24 month follow-up between two groups. Radiographic evaluation showed no difference between two groups at all the follow-up with similar results obtained with the two fixation devices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed a substantial equivalence of the two fixation devices at 6, 12 and 24 month of clinical and radiographic follow-up. Fixation of the lateral malleolus fractures with a CFR-PEEK plate provides satisfying clinical and radiographic results after 2 years of follow-up. These results are comparable to those achieved with conventional plates.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guzzini
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lanzetti
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.lupariello@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lupariello
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Princi
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perugia
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001577:Benzophenones; D001860:Bone Plates; D002244:Carbon; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011108:Polymers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Ankle fractures; Carbon-PEEK; Fixation devices