Beyond the pillars of the ankle: A prospective randomized CT analysis of syndesmosis' injuries in Weber B and C type fractures

Abstract

Background: This study compared clinical and radiographic results of patients who underwent stabilization of syndesmosis with one tricortical syndesmotic screw divided into three different groups: Group A without preoperative fractured ankle computed tomography (CT) scan, Group B with preoperative fractured CT scan, and Group C with preoperative bilateral ankle CT analysis.

Methods: Between June 2016 and May 2017, fifty-one patients with fracture type AO/OTA 44 B and C were analyzed. Of those, 14 (27.45%) were assigned to Group A, 19 (37.25%) to Group B, and 18 (35.30%) to Group C. Clinical outcomes with AOFAS score at 3, 6 and 12 months were recorded. Seven measurements on axial CT scan images were confronted between the injured and uninjured ankle to check the accuracy of reduction.

Results: At three months of follow up the median AOFAS score was 70.86 ± 2.98 with no significative difference between groups (p = 0.105). At 12 months of follow up the median AOFAS score was higher in group C (93.44 ± 3.01) compared to Group B and Group C. The seven variables measured at the CT scan after syndesmotic reduction were statistically different between groups. We found a better restoration of the tibiofibular distances and the correct ankle anatomy in Group C respect to Group A and Group B.

Conclusions: Use of the pre-operative CT scan of the injured and uninjured ankle give to the surgeons the more and accurate information for the reduction and help him intraoperative in the correct maneuvers. The accuracy of the syndesmosis reduction determines better clinical outcomes.

Keywords: AOFAS; CT scan; Malleolar fracture; Syndesmosis injury; Tibiofibular anatomy.