A Novel Operative Approach to the Treatment of Posterior Malleolus Fractures

Abstract

Background: Posterior malleolar fractures are a common subtype of ankle fractures. The management of these fractures remains controversial, though there has been a move toward more operative management in recent years. The operative approach most commonly used to treat these fractures is posterolateral. This method has several drawbacks including the amount of retraction required on already traumatized skin, the risk of damaging the posterior interosseous tibio-fibular ligament, and the difficulty visualizing both the distal fibular and posterior malleolar fractures. We describe a novel operative approach for visualizing and treating these fractures and report on our results. Method: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Data from 2 orthopedic trauma units where this technique is used was analyzed. Demographic and radiographic data was recorded, and a chart review was conducted to identify any noted complications. Results: On analysis of medical records, 50 patients were identified who had been operated on using this technique. When classified using the Bartonicek classification, 46% were type II, 36% were type III and 18% were type IV. Analysis of final x-rays showed that there was no incidence of implant failure or loss of reduction in this cohort. There were 2 complications recorded: 1 early wound dehiscence and 1 late infection giving an overall complication rate of 4%. Discussion: The technique described in this paper is a novel approach, which we feel offers several benefits. We demonstrated that this technique is safe with an incidence of early complications lower than figures commonly quoted for standard care of this cohort of patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV—case series