• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.94-97
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Fatigue breakage of cortical screws sometimes occurs after syndesmosis fixation, regardless of the period of screw retention. This study compared the fatigue strength of a novel screw design to conventional cortical screws in the fixed state of syndesmosis. Materials and Methods: Twelve sawbone models were tested mechanically to determine the fatigue strength of three screw designs. The first group was composed of cortical screws, while the second and third groups were newly-designed screws. The second group was composed of screws with a 2.4-mm diameter thread-free portion of the mid-shank while the third group had a 2.0-mm diameter thread-free mid-shank. A 400 N load was applied repetitively to a fibula model and the number of cycles until screw failure was recorded. Four screws from each group were tested, giving a total of 12 fatigue tests. Results: The average cycles until screw failure for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 8,134, 63,186, and 2,581, respectively. The second group showed the highest fatigue strength (p=0.018). The other two screw designs showed similar fatigue strength (p=0.401). Conclusion: New screw designs with a thread-free portion in the mid-shank could reduce the occurrence of fatigue breakage after syndesmosis fixation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.60-65
• /
• 2002

Purpose: The purposes of the present study were to find the ideal insertion position syndesmosis screw and relation to the surrounding anatomical structures when indirectly inserting the screw anteriorly at a 30 angle at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle join t. Materials and Methods: We performed computed tomography from the axial view in 20 normal individuals at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle joint and divided the lateral side of the fibula into 4 sections. We drew a line from the middle of each of these 4 sections to the posterolateral tibia at a 30 angle and determined the relationship between each of these lines and the surrounding anatomical structures and confirmed the site at which each of these 4 lines passed through the posterolateral tibia which divided into 3 sections and the site of the fibula at which each of these lines passed through the middle 1/3 portion of the tibia. Results: The posterior 3/4 portion of the fibula that passed through the middle 1/3 portion of the posterolateral tibia in 18 cases. The portion did not approach the surrounding anatomical structures(Peroneal vessels and the muscular portion of FHL). Conclusion: The ideal insertion position of syndesmosis screw at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle joint at a 30 angle is the posterior 3/4 portion of the lateral side of the fibula, and injury to the surrounding anatomical structures could be avoided when the screw passes through the middle 1/3 portion of the posterolateral tibia.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.264-271
• /
• 2013

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the effect of fixation tightness of the syndesmotic screw and its indwelling period on the recurrence of the syndesmosis widening after screw removal and the clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Forty consecutive patients with acute syndesmotic injury were retrospectively reviewed. The tibiofibular clear space is measured by digitalized measurement tool on serial radiographs. We analyzed the effect of time from trauma to fixation, syndesmotic screw indwelling duration, and fixation methods. Residual symptoms at the last follow up were evaluated. The student t-test, correlation test, and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Eighteen ankles (45%) had recurrent syndesmosis widening (greater than 5% compared to the contralateral side). Seven patients had pain and five had limitation of motion in the ankle joint. Fixation tightness had significant effect on reducing the recurrence while the severity of the initial widening, time to fixation, and duration of fixation did not affect the outcome. Conclusion: Tight fixation of syndesmotic screw is essential for achieving final syndesmotic stability and reducing recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.128-134
• /
• 2017

Purpose: To introduce reliable and newly developed radiographic measures based on a lateral ankle radiograph to assess a syndesmotic reduction after screw fixation and to compare with the radiographic measures based on the anteroposterior (AP) and mortise radiographs. Materials and Methods: The postoperative ankle radiographs of 34 ankle fracture cases after screw fixation for concurrent syndesmosis injury were reviewed. Two radiographic parameters were measured on each AP and mortise radiograph; tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) and tibiofibular overlap (TFO). Five radiographic parameters were measured on the true lateral radiographs; the anteroposterior tibiofibular (APTF) ratio, anterior tibiofibular ratio (ATFR), posterior tibiofibular ratio (PTFR), distances of intersection of the anterior fibular border and the tibial plafond to anterior cortex of the tibia (AA'), and the intersection of posterior fibular border and tibial plafond to the tip of the posterior malleolus (BB'). In addition, the distance (XP) between the fibular posterior margin (X) crossing tibial plafond or the posterior malleolus and posterior articular margin (P) of the tibial plafond was measured on the lateral view. Results: Using TFCS and TFO in the AP and mortise radiographs, malreductions of syndesmosis were estimated in 17 of 34 cases (50.0%). Using the introduced and developed radiographic measures in the lateral radiographs, syndesmotic malreductions were estimated in 16 out of 34 cases (47.1%). Seventeen cases (50.0%) showed no evidence of postoperative diastasis using the radiographic criteria on the AP and mortise view, 10 cases (58.8%) of whom showed evidence of a malreduction on the lateral radiograph. The newly developed measurements, XP, were measured 0 in 11 out of 34 cases (32.4%). Conclusion: The reduction of syndemosis after screw fixation can be accurately assessed intraoperatively with a combination of several reliable radiographic measurements of the lateral radiograph and traditional radiographic measurements of the AP and mortise radiograph.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.61-66
• /
• 2000

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical validity of percutaneous screw fixation in Maisonneuve fracture. Material and Methods: Out of 5 Maisonneuve fracture patients hospitalized in the department of orthopedic surgery of Seigang hospital from February 1995 to May 1998, 4 patients were treated with percutaneous screw fixation and 1 patient was treated with percutaneous screw fixation and repair of deltoid ligament altogether. The results were evaluated on the clinical and radiological finding. Results: In all cases, the range of motion of ankle joint was normal, the complication such as postoperative pain and post-traumatic arthritis were not found. Widening of medial clear space or talar shift were not found in the follow up X-ray and tibiofibular distance, compared with normal ankle joint was same on follow up CT. Conclusion: Percutaneous screw fixation is simple, less invasive and more effective method in the treatment of Maisonneuve fracture.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2018

Purpose: A distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury with an ankle fracture is usually fixed with syndesmotic screws. Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ has been used as an alternative procedure because of the fewer reported complications. Therefore, this study compared the two surgeries. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients, who underwent syndesmotic screw fixation, and 34 patients, who underwent Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ fixation for distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury from February 2014 to February 2016, were analyzed retrospectively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, range of motion of ankle at 1 year after surgery, tibiofibular clear space, and tibiofibular interval at preoperative, postoperative and 1 year after surgery were investigated. Results: The VAS score, AOFAS score and radiographs were similar in the two groups. Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ showed better results in complications and plantarflexion. Conclusion: Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ fixation is a useful treatment that does not show a difference in fixation strength and clinical outcome. Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ fixation also has an advantage in the range of motion and complications.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study is to analysis the outcome of patient with surgically treated Maisonneuve fracture and find out the factors that might influence the outcome. Material and methods: 20 patients who had surgical treatment due to Maisonneuve fracture between February, 2001 to March, 2005 were studied. The patients were followed for at least 1 year and average follow up period was 25 months. The average age was 41 years, 16 were male and 4 were female. Mechanism of injury according to Rouge-Hansen classification was supination-external rotation. In all cases, percutaneous screw fixation was applied proximal to tibiofibular syndesmosis. The screws were removed after 8 weeks under local anesthesis. Clinical, functional and radiographic results were evaluated. Results: 17 cases (85%) showed satisfying clinical and radiographic results. The mean functional score according to Ankle Scoring System was 91 (83 to 95). Complication occurred in 1 case with underlying systemic disease and 2 cases with initial ankle joint dislocation. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of Maisonneuve fracture showed relatively satisfying result. However, initial injury state and accompanying disease seem to have great effect on the result.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.187-194
• /
• 2011

Ankle injuries may involve the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and can be associated with a variable degree of trauma to the soft tissue and osseous structures that play an important role in ankle joint stability. Ankle syndesmotic injury may occur solely as a soft tissue injury or in association with variable ankle fractures. Ankle syndesmotic injury does not necessarily lead to ankle instability; however, the coexistence of deltoid ligament injury critically destabilizes the ankle joint. The prevalence of these injuries may be higher than previously reported. The diagnosis of syndesmotic injury as not always easy because isolated ankle sprains may be missed in the absence of a frank diastasis and syndesmotic instability may be unnoticed in the presence of bimalleolar ankle fractures. Controversies arise at almost every phase of treatment includings : type of fixation(screw size, type of implant), number of cortices required for fixation and of need for hardware removal. Regardless of controversies, the most important goal should be restore and maintain the normal tibiofibular relationship to allow for healing of the ligamentous structures of the syndesmosis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.88-94
• /
• 2003

Purpose: Bioabsorbable screws are used to fix the syndesmotic injury of ankle because of no need for additional operation to remove it. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of polylevolactic acid (PLLA) screws of in the treatment of the syndesmotic injury of ankle. Materials and Methods: Eight patients of the syndesmotic injury of ankle with malleolar fracture were evaluated in this study. They were managed with plate and screw fixation for malleolar fracture and polylevolactic acid screw fixation for syndesmotic injury, followed by plaster splinting for 6 weeks. Clinical and radiographic evaluation were done and functional scores were assessed. Results: In all cases, malleolar fractures were healed without problematic widening of syndesmosis. There were no sinus tract formation and no wound complication. Of eight patients, five had excellent results and three had good results. Conclusion: We conclude that polylevolactic acid screw is good material for fixation of the syndesmotic injury of ankle.

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