A prospective study of functional outcome of distal fibula fractures with syndesmotic injury managed by anatomical locking compression plate and syndesmotic suture button fixation

Abstract

Syndesmotic injury can occur after trauma to the ankle, both with and without a fracture. In fractures of the ankle, syndesmotic injury occurs in about 50% of type Weber B and in all type Weber C fractures. Syndesmotic diastasis left unnoticed can lead to persisting pain, instability and progressive arthritis. This study focusses on the application of syndesmotic suture button anchor as a fixation method for the syndesmotic joint diastasis. The syndesmotic button fixation does not convert the joint into a rigid articulation and still allows micro motion to happen. In this study, Distal fibular fractures with syndesmotic injuries are selected and anatomically precontoured locking compression plate is applied for fracture fixation and syndesmotic suture button fixation is done for the syndesmotic injury and their functional outcomes studied by various modalities.