OBJECTIVETo analyze the treatment effect of Endobutton plate cable system for the treatment of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury.

METHODSTotal 38 patients with tibiofibular syndesmosis separation treated by surgical operation from October 2011 to October 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. According to internal fixation, 38 cases were divided into two groups involving group A (cortical screw fixation) and group B (Endobutton plate cable system fixation). In group A, there were 26 patients including 16 males and 10 females with an average age of (37.90±4.67) years old ranging from 19 to 63 years old; 14 cases were on the left and 12 on the right;involving 8 cases of Weber-Denis type B, 18 cases of Weber-Denis type C; according to Lauge-Hanson typing, 9 cases of supination external rotation (SER), 10 cases of pronation abduction (PAB), 7 cases of pronation external rotation (PER). In group B, there were 12 cases including 7 males and 5 females, with an average age of (38.70±6.03) years old ranging from 20 to 55 years old;6 cases were on the left and 6 cases on the right;involving 4 cases of Weber-Denis type B and 8 cases of Weber-Denis; involving 7 cases of PER, 3 cases of SER, 2 cases of PAB. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, surgery cost, hospital stay time, the wound healing, pain score at 1 month after operation, and the load time were recorded and evaluated. According to reviewing of X rays regulary, the healing of fracture were assessed, the function outcomes of ankle was evaluated according to the Ankle Hind Foot Scale of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 8 to 18 months with an average of 13.5 months. There were no statistical significance in intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay time, average load time and postoperative pain score at 1 month after operation between two groups (>0.05). Duration of operation, the operative time were significantly shorter in cortical screw group;however, the average cost of hospitalization was significantly higher in Endobutton group. No significant differences were found between two groups in outcome of radiographic measurement. The X rays of 36 patients showed well healing of fracture, normal mortise and no distal tibiofibular syndesmosis separation. AOFAS score at the final follow up in group A was (87.50±8.67) scores, 18 cases got excellent result, 4 cases were good, and 4 cases were fair. AOFAS score at the final follow up in group B was (86.23±7.42) scores, 7 cases obtained excellent result, 4 cases were good and 1 case was fair; AOFAS score between two groups were no significant difference (>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEndobutton plate cable system is a dynamic capital equipment in treating the tibiofibular syndesmosis separation, it has a similar outcome compared with the screw, but without screw fractured and do not regular remove after operation. The patients could take the functional exercises earlier.