OUTCOMES OF POSTERIOR MALLEOLUS FRACTURES

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and complication rates of patients who had sustained an unstable ankle fracture with a posterior malleolus fracture (PMF) and without (N-PMF). Adult patients (> 16 years) presenting to a single large academic trauma centre between 2009 – 2012 with an unstable ankle fracture requiring surgery were identified. Data collected were patient demographics, fracture classification and clinical outcomes. There were 675 patients in the study cohort. The mean age was 48.5 years (range, 16–92) and 59% (n=395/675) were female. Of the total cohort, 63.9% (n=431/675) had an associated PMF. Of those fractures with an associated PMF, 85% (n=367/431) did not undergo fragment specific fixation. There were no statistically significant differences between groups with regards further surgery secondary to complication (N-PMF 5.7%% [n=14/244] vs PMF 7.5% [n=32/431]; p=0.403) or infection (N-PMF 7.8% [n=19/244] vs PMF 8.4% [n=36/431]; p=0.796). Patients with a PMF were significantly more likely to develope PTOA (N-PMF 27.0% [n=66/244] vs PMF 54.5% [n=235/431]; p