Management of severely comminuted, complete articular tibial pilon fractures (Rüedi and Allgöwer type III) remains a challenge, with few treatment options providing good clinical outcomes. Twenty patients with severely comminuted tibial pilon fractures underwent primary ankle arthrodesis with a retrograde calcaneal nail and autogenous fibular bone graft. The fusion rate was 100% and the varus m...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Based on reported success with staged treatment of distal tibial fractures, we designed a 2-stage protocol including external/internal locked plating. We retrospectively assessed the outcome of open distal tibial fractures treated according to this protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS From March 2006 through July 2008, 16 patients who sustained open distal tibial fractures we...

We retrospectively reviewed 60 fractures of the tibial plafond treated by either an ankle-sparing diaphyseal-epiphyseal technique using the Ilizarov ring fixator or by an ankle-spanning technique using a monolateral articulated external fixator. The Ilizarov ring fixator was applied in 24 fractures and the monolateral articulated transarticular external fixator in 20. Both techniques were combi...

Objectives. The aim of this retrospective study was to report the treatment results obtained with the anklespanning Ilizarov fixator technique in the treatment of complex OTA/AO type 43C3 open tibial pilon fractures. Methods. A total of 14 patients with open OTA/AO type 43C3 tibial pilon fractures were evaluated. The demographics and fracture characteristics, preoperative and postoperative radi...

We report the results of a three-year study of bifocal fractures of the tibia and fibula, excluding segmental shaft fractures. In our whole series, these formed 4.7% of all tibial diaphyseal fractures. We describe three groups: bifocal fractures of both the proximal and the distal joint surfaces, fractures of the shaft and tibial plateau, and fractures of the shaft and ankle. These groups of fr...

Ankle fractures are a significant part of the lower extremity trauma seen in the emergency department. Neurologic complications of ankle fracture surgery are infrequently described but account for significant morbidity. The risk of nerve injury is increased for the Blair and Botte type B pattern of the intermediate cutaneous dorsal nerve branch, crossing the distal fibula from posterior to ante...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of deltoid ligament injury in bimalleolar supination-external rotation type fractures and whether there is a correlation between the size of the fractured medial malleolus and deltoid ligament injury . METHODS Twenty six consecutive patients underwent magnetic resonance exams after clinical and radiographic diagnosis of bimalleolar supination-external rotat...

Short leg (SLW) and patellar tendon bearing walkers (PTBW) are orthotic appliances† which have been recently designed as alterna­ tive devices to traditional plaster cast immobili­ zation. The indications for use of lower leg walkers include severe ankle sprains, and ankle and foot fractures. Orthopedic walkers are con­ venient to use, lightweight, and removable to perform joint range of motion...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Treatment of osteoporotic and neuropathic ankle fractures in the elderly is challenging. The purpose of this paper is to review recent publications on this topic and to identify the optimal treatment for these fractures. RECENT FINDINGS Treatment consists of a variety of conservative or operative options all with advantages and disadvantages as described in this review. Litt...

BACKGROUND Diagnosis and treatment of stress fractures still remains to be a clinical and radiological challenge. Therapeutic options vary from conservative treatment to surgical treatment without a clear treatment concept. Recently the combination of PET and MRI has been introduced, aiming a superior diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice. Therefore the aim of our study was to analyse whethe...