• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.110-115
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• 2019

Purpose: This study analyzed the clinical and radiological results of Reudi-Allgower type II and III open tibia pilon fracture patients who underwent plate fixation after the recovery of a soft tissue injury after external fixation. Materials and Methods: From 2010 to 2015, this study analyzed 14 patients who were treated for open tibial pilon fractures and could be followed up at least one year. The mean age was 49 years and the average follow-up period was 19 months. An emergency operation was performed for external fixation and open wounds, and secondary surgery was performed for definitive fixation using a plate. The radiological and clinical evaluations were analyzed retrospectively. Complications, such as post-traumatic osteoarthritis and wound infections were also analyzed. Results: The mean duration between two-staged surgery was 21 days and the mean bone union time was 9.2 months. Three cases of delayed union and one case of nonunion were reported. The malunion did not occur in all cases. The average American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 68 points. A limitation of the ankle motion occurred in all cases. In four cases, wound infections due to initial open wounds occurred; one patient underwent a below the knee amputation due to chronic osteomyelitis. Post-traumatic arthritis occurred in 10 cases. Conclusion: Severe comminuted tibial plateau open fractures of Reudi-Allgower type II and III, which are high-energy injuries that result in extensive soft tissue damage, have a higher incidence of complications, such as ulcer problems and osteomyelitis, than closed tibia plateau fractures. Post-traumatic arthritis is the most common complication of tibia plateau open fractures, and staged surgery is recommended because of the relatively satisfactory clinical results.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.116-120
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• 2019

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical and radiological results of 6.5 mm full threaded cancellous bone screw fixation of calcaneal fractures. Materials and Methods: Thirty seven patients diagnosed with Sanders type II or III calcaneal fractures, who underwent open reduction and internal fixation with a 6.5 mm full threaded cancellous bone screw between August 2014 and August 2017, were analyzed. Both the preoperative and postoperative Böhler angle and Gissane angle were measured radiographically. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale on the final follow-up were also assessed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.7 years and the mean follow-up period was 29.5 months. In the Sanders classification, type II and III were 16 and 24 cases, respectively. The Böhler and Gissane angles improved from 21.2° and 122.6° preoperatively to 21.6° and 120.3°, respectively, in the postoperative radiographs. All cases achieved bony union, and the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale was 90.7 and 91.3 in Sanders type II and III, respectively, at the final follow-up. Conclusion: The treatment of calcaneal fractures using a 6.5 mm full threaded cancellous bone screw can reduce the complications with minimally invasive surgery and achieve firm fixation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.250-257
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• 2003

Purpose: Pilon fracture is caused by high energy and axial compression forces, and it is often associated with severe comminution and soft tissue injury. Recently, limited internal fixation of this fracture may avoid the soft tissue complications associated with formal open reduction and internal fixation and avoid incongruity of joint margin associated with conservative treatment. We have treated Ovadia and Beals type II or III pilon fracture with limited internal fixation and the results were satisfactory. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 15 cases of Ovadia and Beals type II or III fractures who were treated by limited internal fixation(K-wire or screw fixation) from January 1995 to December 2000. The average follow up period was 20 months(range, 12 to 38 months). According to the Ovadia and Beals classification, seven cases were type II, and eight cases were type III. Radiographic results were assessed by Ovadia and Beals criteria. We also assessed the functional results by Mast and Teipner criteria. Results: Radiographic results showed good in 67% and fair in 33% of cases. Clinical results showed good in 73% and fair in 27% of cases. There were no complications such as wound infection and skin necrosis, but traumatic arthritis were 2 cases. Conclusion: Pilon fractures are high energy injuries with significantly associated soft tissue damage and traumatic arthritis. Limited internal fixation offers good solution to Ovadia and Beals type II or III fracture.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 2015

The checkrein deformity describes tethering of the flexor hallucis longus tendon, which mainly occurs after fracture of the distal tibia. The deformity increases with dorsiflexion of the ankle and decreases or disappears with plantarflexion of the ankle. In some cases, the deformity may occasionally include the second and third toes. In the current study, the authors experienced secondary checkrein deformity of all lesser toes after open reduction and plate fixation for comminuted fracture of the calcaneus. As a treatment, plate and screws were removed, followed by an additional medial incision which showed a partially ruptured flexor digitorum longus tendon with severe adhesion. Resection of the adhesed tendon and tenodesis of its distal portion to the flexor hallucis longus was performed for correction of the checkrein deformity. Then the lessor toe checkrein deformity recovered immediately. The authors report on this rare lessor toe checkrein deformity after calcaneal fracture fixation with a review of literature.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2002

Purpose: To present the clinical analysis of the results obtained in 38 cases of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures undergone combined percutaneous axial pin fixation of calcaneal body and minimal internal fixation using extensile lateral approach. Materials and Methods: From March 2000 to February 2002, thirty-eight displaced intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus in 35 patients were fixed with 3.5mm cannulated screws and percutaneous 2.5mm K-wires. The extensile lateral approach was used in all cases. The average follow-up period was 16 months. Clinical evaluation was assessed according to the Ankle-Hind Foot Scale of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society. Results: The clinical results were graded as excellent in 8 cases(21%), good in 22 cases(58%), fair in 6 cases(16%), and poor in 2 cases(5%). Two cases of poor result were type IV of Sanders classification. The postoperative reduction status of the articular surface was analyzed by computed tomography in all cases and was found to be less 2mm of step off in 30 cases and between 2 and 4mm in 8 cases. Unsatisfactory results were correlated with severity of articular comminution and failure to obtain accurate reduction of the articular surface. Using early functional postoperative care, all fractures healed without secondary displacement except 1 case on an average of ten weeks. Two cases had superficial necrosis of the wound margins, however, secondary wound healing was uneventful and skin grafting was not needed. Conclusion: Combined minimal internal fixation and percutaneous pin fixation using extensile lateral approach is useful operative method of intraarticular calcaneal fractures because providing enough stability to permit functional aftercare and allowing excellent anatomical reduction. In addition, this method diminishes the risk of lateral soft tissue problems.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2001

Study design: Clinical results were retrospectively analyzed in 11 patients with fractures of talar neck who were treated in our department from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1999. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term results and to assess the prognostic factors of talar neck fractures. Material and Method: 11 cases with fractures of talar neck were reviewed retrospectively with minimum 1 year follow-up. There were 8 men & 3 women, and the average age was 25. The most common cause was traffic accident. According to the modified Hawkins classification, type I was in 4 cases, type II in 5, type III in 2, and type IV was none. All type I fractures were treated conservatively, and others were treated operatively. Results: According to Hawkins criteria, there was excellent result in 7 cases(64%), good in 2(18%), and fair in 2(18%). Post-traumatic arthritis occurred in 2 cases, but there was no avascular necrosis. Conclusion: Careful selection of method of treatment and urgent management are important prognostic factors in talar neck fractures. The longer follow-up in more cases is necessary to evaluate the long-term clinical results and complications more accurately.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2001

Treatment of calcaneal fraclure is difficult and full of controversy still and choice of treatment of the displaced intracalcaneal fracture is not available yet. Furthermore, the treatment of old calcaneal fracture with displaced subtalar joint or malunited calcaneal fracture is really difficult and painful to solve the problem other than subtalar arthrodesis, ignoring conservative treatment, excision of bone mass and/or adhesiolysis, which is/are a kind of palliative or salvage treatment in stead of definitive treatment that restores smooth articular surface of the subtalar joint as far as we can. Authors had some experiences treating this difficult old and displaced calcaneal fractures. Some of them were malunited already. Hereby we report our favorable results to treat the fractures with surgical reduction (reconstruction) and internal fixation without bone graft. We recommend reconstruction of the displaced subtalar joint even though it is not congruent and partly gone to get subtalar motion insead of palliative operation such as subtalar fusion, which can be done later and long term potential cause of mid tarsal arthrosis of the foot.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2021

Purpose: This paper reports the surgical treatment results of open calcaneal fractures performed at the author's clinics focusing on open calcaneal fractures to help understand the appropriate treatment and realistic outcomes. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 22 cases out of 30 patients who visited the hospital from February 2009 to December 2019 and were followed up for more than one year. In open fractures, the fracture was classified using the Gustilo-Anderson classification and was evaluated using the soft tissue status at the time of visit. Intra-articular calcaneal fractures were classified using Sanders classification. The radiological parameters were measured for the Böhler angle, Gissane angle, calcaneal length, height, and width before and after surgery, and at the last follow-up. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale and investigated complications. In addition, statistical analysis of the incidence and associated factors of posttraumatic arthritis was conducted. Results: In all cases, the surgical treatment was performed by minimally invasive surgery. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale conducted for a clinical evaluation of the final follow-up was averaged 72.5 points. In the classification of open fractures, the Gustilo-Anderson classification type IIIA was the most common, and the Sanders type III was the most common. Of the 22 cases after surgery, 15 cases had complications, 11 cases had posttraumatic arthritis, eight cases had an infection, and 4 cases had both complications. Only the Sanders classification showed a statistically significant correlation with the incidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (p-value 0.032). Conclusion: In treating open calcaneal fractures, internal fixation by a minimally invasive approach showed relatively satisfactory results. However, follow-up research will be needed, including the results of a long-term follow-up through a large number of cases and comparative studies with other surgical methods.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.95-99
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic outcomes of distal fibular fractures and to analyze the risk factors associated with nonunion. Materials and Methods: Between January 2009 and March 2016, 13 patients who had final nonunion with ankle fracture were included. In the control group, 370 patients who had undergone bony union and removed metal implants were included. All patients underwent the same surgical procedure and had the same treatment method, ultimately achieving satisfactory open reduction results with less than 2 mm fracture gap. Surgical treatment of fracture was considered to have the same effect on nonunion, and factors that might be associated with nonunion were evaluated. SPSS ver. 13.0 (SPSS Inc., USA) was used for all statistical analyses. Pearson's chi-square test and multi-variate regression analysis were performed to determine the factors affecting nonunion of distal fibular fracture. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant, and relative risk was assessed. Results: The mean age of 13 patients was 46.9 years (range, 16~57 years); there were 8 men and 5 women. Among the 13 patients with nonunion, atrophic was the most common (12 cases). The association between the injury mechanism and the Lauge-Hansen classification and diabetes mellitus was not statistically significant. Distal fibular fractures with tibia shaft fracture (p=0.015) and Danis-Weber type C fracture (p=0.023), open fracture (p=0.011), and smoking (p=0.023) were significantly associated with nonunion. Conclusion: In this study, the combined injury of the ipsilateral tibia shaft fracture, open fracture, and Danis-Weber type C fracture may increase the possibility of nonunion. Therefore, caution is advised to prevent nonunion.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.58-66
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of deltoid ligament repair on syndesmotic stabilization in patients with acute ankle fractures with ruptured deltoid and syndesmotic ligaments. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 41 patients (41 ankles) who underwent surgery for Weber type B ankle fracture with ruptured deltoid and syndesmotic ligaments were retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up duration was 36 months (range 18~65 months). Patients were divided into two groups: those that underwent deltoid ligament repair (the deltoid group) and those who did not (the non-deltoid group). Both groups were also divided into two subgroups, namely, the D1/S1 group, which underwent syndesmotic screw fixation, or the D2/S2 group, which did not. Medial clear space (MCS), tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), anterior fibular line (AFL) ratio, and posterior fibular line (PFL) distance were measured, and visual analog scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and Foot Function Index (FFI) scores were evaluated. Results: TFCS changed significantly after surgery in the D2 and S1 groups (p=0.01, p=0.03, respectively). Subgroup MCSs, TFCSs, and AFL ratios were not significantly altered by surgery in the four subgroups (p=0.82, p=0.45, p=0.25, respectively). However, postoperative PFL distances were significantly different in the D2 and S1 groups and the S1 and S2 groups (p=0.02, p=0.02, respectively). Mean TFCS decreased significantly after surgery in the D2 and S1 groups. The postoperative VAS, AOFAS scores, and FFI were not significantly different between the subgroups (p=0.44, p=0.40, and p=0.46, respectively). Conclusion: Deltoid ligament repair seemed to restore ankle stability without addressing syndesmosis in Weber type B ankle fractures with rupture of deltoid and syndesmotic ligaments.