A Clinical Study of the Ankle Fracture

The ankle is a complex structure supporting the entire musculoskeletal system during standing and walking. The injuries to the ankle joint result in a severe functional disturbance because of complex anatomical characteristics around the ankle joint. 284 patients of the ankle fracture that were treated in orthopedic Dept. Capital Armed Forced General Hospital from march 1985. to march 1988. were analized in clinical and radiological aspects. The following results were obtained: 1. The main cause of the injuries was falling from a height and the other were sports injury and slipping down in order. 2. The most common type by Lauge-Hansen classification was supination-external rotation type(122 case, 42.9%). 3. 211 case(74.3%) were treated with open reduction and internal fixation, and 73 case(25.7%) were treated with closed reduction. Poor outcome seemed closely related to the severity of the injury and degree of fracture displacement. 4. Accurate reduction and rigid internal fixation of the lateral malleolus with shortening was important factor. 5. Classification of Lauge-Hansen was useful in the diagnosis and treatment of the ankle fractures.