A Clinical Study of Ankle Fracture

The ankle is a complex, weight-bearing joint and has an important role in walking. The injuries to the ankle joint complex include not only injuries that cause disruption of the bony architecture of the ankle joint but often significant ligamentous and soft tissue components. The literature on ankle fractures have divergence of opinion on treatment. However, the method used to obtain a good end result of treatment is a matter of differing opinion. One hundred and seventy six patients with one hundred and eighty cases of ankle fractures treated at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine from Jan. 1971 to Dec. 1980 were analized in clinical and radiological aspect. The results obtained from this study were as followings: 1. Among the 176 patients, male was 126 patients and female 50 patients (M:F=2.5:1). The average age was 29. 2. Of the 180 cases, the main cause of fractures was traffic accident, 74 cases (41.1%) and the other causes were falling from a height (16.1%), slipping down (15.0%) and sports injuries (12.8%) in order. 3. The fractures were almost closed fractures (84.4%). 4. According to the classification of Lague-Mansen, the pronation-external rotation type (40.6%) was the commonest type. 5. One hundred and twelve cases (62.2%) were treated by open reduction and 68 cases (37.8%) by closed reduction. 6. The average period of the cast immoblization after the open reduction was 8 weeks but the closed reduction was 10 weeks. 7. According to clinical and radioiogical assessment of the result of the treatment, the open reduction was better than closed reduction. 8. The fibular fracture involving lateral malleolus and the diastasis of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis were very important in ankle stability and were treated by internal fixation for accurate anatomical reduction.