Evaluation of the role of deltoid ligament repair in open internal fixation of ankle fracture with deltoid ligament injury
Wang Yanyan1, Shi Rongjian1, Yu Guangrong2, Yang Long1, Cao Guangchao1
1Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Xuzhou Renci Hospital, Xuzhou 221000, China; 2Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of deltoid ligament repair on the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fracture with deltoid ligament injury. Methods Retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of 110 patients with ankle fractures and deltoid ligament injuries who were successfully treated with ORIF in the Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Xuzhou Renci Hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were included in this study. The patients comprised 85 males and 25 females, aged 23-63 years. Among the patients, 64 had Weber-B type while 46 had Weber-C type of fractures. The patients were divided into two groups, the ORIF group (ORIF treatment, 52 cases) and repair group (ORIF + triangular ligament repair, 58 cases) in accordance with whether the triangular ligament was repaired during the operation. The outcome indexes were as follows. (1) Baseline data, such as gender, age, type of injury, affected side, and fracture type, were compared between the two groups. (2) Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay length, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. (3) During the 6-month follow-up after surgery, the short-term outcomes of different Danis-Weber types, including fracture healing time, media clear space (MCS), talar inclination angle, and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind foot score, were compared between the two groups. Excellent and good rates were calculated. Results Surgery was successful in both groups, and incisions healed within one stage after surgery. All the patients were followed-up for 6-24 months, and none of them developed ankle instability or arthritis during this period. (1) No significant differences were found in the baseline data between the two groups (all P values >0.05). (2) Operation time in the repair group was (110.2±14.9) min, which was longer than that in the ORIF group, i.e., (98.6±12.1) min. The difference was statistically significance (t=4.44, P<0.001). By contrast, the differences in intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay length, and the incidence rate of complications were not statistically significant (all P values >0.05). (3) The healing time of patients with Weber-B and Weber-C types of fractures in the repair group was (11.6±1.6) and (12.5±1.9) weeks, respectively, which were shorter than those in the ORIF group, i.e., (12.7±2.0) and (13.9±2.1) weeks, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (t=2.24, 2.40, all P values <0.05). Intragroup comparison showed that patients with Weber-B and Weber-C types of fractures exhibited decreased MCS and talar inclination angle and significantly increased AOFAS score 6 months after surgery compared with their values before surgery. The differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). Comparison between the ORIF and repair groups showed no statistically significant differences in MCS, talar inclination angle, AOFAS score before and after surgery, and postoperative poor reduction rate between patients with Weber-B and Weber-C types of fractures (all P values >0.05). Postoperative MCS, talar inclination angle, and poor reduction rate in the repair group were lower than those in the ORIF group, whereas AOFAS score was higher than that in the ORIF group. The differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). (4) No significant differences were recorded in the excellent and good rates of ankle joint function recovery between patients with Weber-B and Weber-C types of fractures (all P values >0.05). Overall, the excellent and good rates of ankle joint function recovery 6 months after surgery were higher in the repair group (91.4%, 53/58) than in the ORIF group (76.9%, 40/52). The difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.40, P=0.036). Conclusion Deltoid ligament repair during ORIF in patients with ankle fracture and deltoid ligament injury can significantly shorten fracture healing time, improve ankle joint function, and reduce the occurrence of mal-repositioning among patients with Weber-C type of fracture.
王岩岩, 石荣剑, 俞光荣, 杨龙, 曹广超. 三角韧带修复在踝关节骨折伴三角韧带损伤切开复位内固定治疗中的作用[J]. 中华解剖与临床杂志, 2023, 28(7): 442-447.
Wang Yanyan, Shi Rongjian, Yu Guangrong, Yang Long, Cao Guangchao. Evaluation of the role of deltoid ligament repair in open internal fixation of ankle fracture with deltoid ligament injury. Chinese Journal of Anatomy and Clinics, 2023, 28(7): 442-447.
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