Analysis of Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

The results of the treatment upon total 132 cases of ankle and foot fractures treated during the period from January 1969 to August 1978 at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Medical Center have been analysed and reported in this paper. 1. Sex ratio between male and female was 3.7:1. 68 cases (51.5%) cases out of 132 cases were in the age groups of 2nd and 3rd decades. remarkably higher than any other group. 2. 85 cases out of 132 cases were closed fractures and 47 cases were open fractures, but the incidence of the open fracture in higher in the fractures below the metatarsal bones and multiple fractures. 3. 59 cases out of 132 cases were ankle fractures 34 tarsal bone fractures 14 metatarsal bone fractures, 8 phalangeal bone fractures and 20 multiple fractures Accordingly, the incidence of the ankle fracture is higher than other fractures. 4. Ankle fracture was classified in 4 types according to the fracture mechanism (Lauge-Hansen classification). 20 cases out of 59 cases were pronation-abduction type, 15 cases were pronation-external rotation type, 14 cases were supination adduction type and 9 cases were supination-external rotation type. 15 cases out of 59 cases of the ankle fractures were treated by tension band compression internal fixation. The result of this method was much better than other methods. 5. 25 cases out of 35 cases of calcaneal fracture involved subtalar joint according to Rowe classification. 12 cases out of 25 cases of calcaneal fracture involved subtalar joint were Tongue type-C. In the treatment, no relation between restoration tuber angle or Gissane angle and the incidence of complication was obtained. 6. The incidence of the complication, such as secondary oateoarthritis, non union. malunion, occurred higher in the open and multiple fractures than closed and single fractures.