title: Management of acute injuries of the tibiofibular syndesmosis.
abstract: The syndesmosis is important for ankle stability and load transmission and is commonly injured in association with ankle sprains and fractures. Syndesmotic disruption is associated with between 5 and 10% of ankle sprains and 11-20% of operative ankle fractures. Failure to recognize and appropriately treat syndesmotic disruption can portend poor functional outcomes for patients; therefore, early recognition and appropriate treatment are critical. Syndesmotic injuries are difficult to diagnose, and even when identified and treated, a slightly malreduced syndesmosis can lead to joint destruction and poor functional outcomes. This review will discuss the relevant anatomy, biomechanics, mechanism of injury, clinical evaluation, and treatment of acute injuries to the ankle syndesmosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Fort
authors.affiliation: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Amiethab A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aiyer
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Specialty Institute, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Niall A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Kadak259@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anish R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kadakia
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ankle fractures; Ligament injury; Syndesmotic injuries