OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical effects of intramedullary fixation of Kirschner pin for the treatment of distal fibula fractures.

METHODSFrom April 2007 to June 2010, thirty patients with the distal fibula fractures were treated with intramedullary fixation of Kirschner pin. There were 22 males and 8 females with an average age of 35.6 years old (22 to 60 years), length of hospital stay was 10 to 30 days (means 15.8 days). There were 20 cases of Transverse fracture and 10 cases of oblique fracture. Evaluation of the function of the ankle joint is based on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) standard evaluation systems.

RESULTSAll the cases were followed up. The mean followed-up time was 15.5 months (3 to 30 months). All fractures were bone healed, no case suffered infection and nonunion, no case suffered nervus fibularis superficialis injury. According to the AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) evaluation systems, the total scores after operation was 96.1 +/- 4.3 (the pain was 39.0 +/- 4.0, the fracture force line was 10, the function was 47.1 +/- 2.1. Twenty-eight patients obtained excellent results, 2 good.

CONCLUSIONThis method can be easily operated with the advantages of less pain and safety. It can effectively attenuate the financial burden of the patients. Thus worth being popularized in clinicic and basic level hospital.