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

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of computerized tomography (CT) for the diagnosis and the fragment fixation of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament avulsion fracture in ankle fracture. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 108 patients with an ankle fracture who had been checked with plain radiographs and CT from July 2006 to July 2010. They were divided into two groups; patients with (19 patients) and without (89 patients) an avulsion fracture of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. The two groups were evaluated with Lauge-Hansen classification, the energy of trauma, and the radiologic indices for syndesmotic injury, and were compared each other. Average follow up periods of two groups were 25 and 23 months each. Those who were unstable at stress test during surgery were divided into fragment fixation of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament avulsion fracture group (8 patients) and transfixation one (11 patients) according to treatment method. Clinical and radiological results at last follow up were also compared. Results: Fourteen avulsion fractures of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament were diagnosed by CT only. Incidences of pronation-external rotation injury, high energy trauma, positive radiologic indices for syndesmotic injury were significantly higher in patients with an avulsion fracture of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament than those without it. Clinical and radiological results were satisfactory in both groups at last follow up, and were not significantly different between them. Conclusion: In patients who have an ankle fracture by pronation-external rotation injury, high energy trauma, or with positive radiologic indices for syndesmotic injury, CT is useful for diagnosis of an avulsion fracture of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. Fragment fixation of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament avulsion fracture is a useful treatment option for syndesmotic injury.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.128-134
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• 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
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2022

When an ankle lateral malleolar fracture is accompanied by a deltoid ligament rupture without a medial malleolar fracture, such an injury is called a bimalleolar equivalent fracture. This means that even if there is no bony injury on the medial side, there may be functional instability of the ankle joint due to damage to the deltoid ligament. Manual or gravity external rotational stress radiography is used to differentiate an ankle bimalleolar equivalent fracture from an isolated lateral malleolar fracture. If the medial joint gap is widened on the stress radiography, the deltoid ligament injury can be diagnosed, and surgical treatment for fibula fractures is recommended. After open reduction of the fibula fracture (with syndesmotic fixation if needed), a decision on the repair of the deltoid ligament is taken depending on the surgeons' preference and intraoperative findings. The deltoid ligament repair is performed by inserting a suture anchor (or anchors) in the medial malleolus and fixing the deep and superficial deltoid ligaments to the medial malleolus. The only randomized study to evaluate the utility of deltoid ligament sutures in ankle fractures did not support the deltoid ligament suture, but the study itself had many limitations. An appropriately powered, randomized, controlled trial of the deltoid ligament repair with both patient-reported outcome and radiographic outcome evaluation is needed in the future.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty for the post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients who had undergone total ankle arthroplasty from February 2005 to June 2006 were reviewed. Eleven patients were male and three patients were female. The mean age was 52.8 years (range, 33 to 69 years). The mean follow-up duration was 15.9 months (range, 12 to 24 months). Primary injuries were pilon fractures in eight cases, malleolar fractures in three, ankle syndesmotic injury in one, talus fracture and dislocation in one, and distal tibial physeal injury in one. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Range of motion (ROM), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and complications were evaluated. Results: The mean VAS improved from 8.6 preoperatively to 2.6 at last follow-up. The mean ROM improved from 24.6 degrees preoperatively to 33.1 degrees postoperatively. The mean AOFAS score improved from 44.5 points preoperatively to 75.1 points postoperatively. Radiographically, all components were stable, but there were component malpositions in two cases, including one varus malposition of tibial component and one increased anterior translation of talar component. Complications were deep infection in one case, intraoperative malleolar fracture in three, marginal wound necrosis in two, and heterotopic ossification in one. One prosthesis was revised because of deep infection. Conclusion: Total ankle arthroplasty for the post-traumatic osteoarthritis is believed to be an useful method for preservation of the motion, relief of the pain and high satisfaction of patients in short-term results.