Comparison of embrace fixation and screw fixation for inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis injury
10.3760/cma.j.cn115530-20240525-00223
- VernacularTitle:环抱式固定技术和螺钉固定治疗下胫腓联合损伤的疗效比较
- Author:
Jian WANG
1
;
Chenhan WANG
;
Zhenlu CAO
;
Xiaoheng DING
;
Quanyu DONG
Author Information
1. 青岛大学附属医院手足显微外科，青岛 266000
- Keywords:
Ankle injuries;
Ligaments, articular;
Fractures fixation, internal;
Bone screw;
Embrace technique
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
2024;26(7):563-568
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To compare the embrace fixation and screw fixation in the treatment of inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 125 patients who had been treated for ankle fractures and distal syndesmotic injuries at The Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University from April 2018 to September 2021. They were 79 males and 46 females with an age of (25.4±11.2) years. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their fixation methods: an observation group of 75 cases subjected to embrace fixation and a control group of 50 cases subjected to conventional screw fixation. Their reduction was evaluated by comparing the disparities between the affected and normal sides in the anterior and posterior syndesmotic distances, fibular translation distance, and fibular rotation angle between the 2 groups after surgery. Intraoperative immobilization time for the inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, Olerud-Molander ankle function score, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were also compared at the last follow-up between the 2 groups.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative baseline data between the 2 groups of patients, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in intraoperative immobilization time for the inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis, disparity between the injured and normal sides in postoperative fibular translation distance, or VAS pain score at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The anterior and posterior syndesmotic distances, disparity between the injured and normal sides in fibular rotation angle, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, and Olerus-Molander ankle function score in the observation group [0.1 (-0.2, 0.3) mm, 0.1 (-0.3, 0.5) mm, -0.5 (-1.1, 0.8)°, 96 (93, 100) points, and 95 (90, 100) points] were all significantly better than those in the control group [1.4 (0.6, 2.1) mm, 1.5 (0.9, 2.2) mm, 1.2 (-3.8, 3.7)°, 93 (89, 96) points, and 90 (85, 100) points] (all P<0.05). There was no major complication or nonunion in the observation group. Conclusion:The embrace technique can provide an accurate and effective fixation for the inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis in patients with ankle fracture and lead to better clinical and radiographic outcomes than conventional screw fixation.
