Ankle Fracture with a Complex Injury Mechanism and Misleading Hook Test Result: A Case Report

Analysis of the Ability of a Distal Tibial Anatomical Locking Plate to Capture the Distal Tibial Fragments in Patients with Pilon Fractures

OBJECTIVE

Although pilon fractures are rare in clinical practice, they are difficult to treat because of their complexity. Effective fixation of the fracture fragment is the key to the treatment of pilon fractures. Plate osteosynthesis is common clinically, but there are many types of plates and the evaluation of the effect of fixation plates is not comprehensive. This study attempted to compare the capture effect of different fixation plates on the fracture fragments based on 3D modeling and fine distinctions of fracture fragments.

METHODS

The computed tomography (CT) images before treatment of 127 patients with pilon fractures from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. The fracture lines were mapped and digitally displayed as 3D images using MIMICS 21 software. APLUS distal tibia anatomical locking plate (Plate A) and ZIMMER distal tibia anatomical plate (Plate B) were placed on a pseudo-bone model and CT scans were used to determine the number of screws in the major and minor fragments of pilon fractures. The frequency of the two plates capturing the fracture fragments was recorded.

RESULTS

Under Assumption 1 or 2, Plate A performed significantly better than Plate B in capturing the major, Chaput, Volkmann, medial malleolus, and die-punch fracture fragments. Plate A captured markedly more minor fragments than Plate B under Assumption 2 but was not significantly different from Plate B under Assumption 1. Plate A or Plate B showed no obvious difference between major and minor capture rates under the same assumption, and A1 or B1 showed a markedly higher capture rate compared with A2 or B2. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the major capture rate and the major fragments in B1, and a significant negative correlation between the minor capture rate and the minor fragments in Plates A and B. However, there was no correlation between the major capture rate of Plate A and the major fragments.

CONCLUSION

The APLUS distal tibial anatomical locking plate is superior to the ZIMMER distal tibia anatomical plate in the ability to capture distal tibial fragments in pilon fracture cases.

Nonoperative treatment of avulsion fracture of the anterior tibia with proximal fibular fracture: A case report

Background

Avulsion fracture of the anterior tibia with proximal fibular fracture commonly occurs in Maisonneuve fracture, which generally involves ankle instability and requires surgical correction. Nonoperative treatment of this type of fracture has been rarely reported in the literature.

Case presentation

A 48-year-old male reported pain in the lateral part of his left lower leg and ankle during a badminton play. Physical examination revealed tenderness and swelling of the lateral aspects of the left ankle, as well as the proximal aspect of the fibula. Preoperative plain x-ray image, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an avulsion fracture of the anterior tibia by the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament without medial and posterior fracture, rupture of the deltoid ligament, or interosseous membrane. Nonoperative management was performed and successful recovery was observed at a 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Nonoperative management can be a better option for some variations of Maisonneuve fracture with a stable ankle joint. The selection of treatment options should be based on careful examination and radiological evaluation of the ankle.

[Progress in diagnosis and treatment of fibular fracture in ankle fracture]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of fibular fracture in ankle fracture.

METHODS

Relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years was widely consulted, and various types of fractures were discussed and summarized according to Danis-Weber classification.

RESULTS

Conservative treatment is not an ideal treatment for type A avulsion fracture. The operation method should be determined according to the position and size of bone mass. For simple type B fracture, both conservative treatment and surgical treatment can achieve good results. When the position of type C fracture is high and does not affect the stability of ankle joint, it can be treated conservatively, while when the position is low and affects the stability of ankle joint, it needs surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION

First of all, whether the fibular fracture in the ankle fracture is stable or not should be determined. Whether it is treated surgically or not, the purpose is to restore the tibiofibular syndesmosis and restore the motor function of the ankle.