A STUDY ON OUTCOME OF INTERNAL FIXATION IN BIMALLEOLAR FRACTURES OF ANKLE

Abstract

Most ankle fractures are complex injuries that are difficult to manage. These injuries gain importance because the whole-body weight is transmitted through the ankle and locomotion depends upon the stability of the ankle joint. There has been a gradual evolution in the effective strategies for the treatment of ankle fractures. The goals of treatment include achieving sound union of fracture and an ankle that moves and functions normally without pain.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate the results, obtained by the surgical treatment of Bimalleolar fractures in adults by various methods and to analyse results of internal fixation in displaced bimalleolar ankle fractures, faster rehabilitation, and complications.

Methods: In our prospective study, 30 patients above the age of 21 years with Bimalleolar fractures of ankle, treated with internal fixation by various surgical methods at Government General Hospital, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, during the period from September 2021 to November 2023 were studied for a period of 6 – 18months. Results of the study were compared and analysed with other studies.

Results: In the present study, 30 patients with Bimalleolar fractures were treated surgically. Excellent results were achieved in 8 cases (26.6%), good in 18 cases (60%), fair results in 3 cases (10%) and poor results in 1case (3.3%). Excellent to good results were obtained in 86.6%. 4 patients (13.3%) had fair to poor results, were seen in those with associated syndesmotic injury, and in patients with delayed union of medial malleolus and those with superficial or deep infections.