Unimalleolar Versus Bimalleolar Fixation in Bi- or Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture
Trauma
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Trauma focused on measuring Ankle, Fracture, medial malleolus, Osteosynthesis
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Weber B bi- or trimalleolar ankle fracture (fracture of the lateral and medial malleolus +/- posterior malleolus sized under 30% of the distal tibia joint line measured from the lateral projection of the standard ankle radiographs)
- Age: 16 years or older
- Voluntary
- Operated within 7 days of the trauma
- Able to walk unaided before the current trauma
Exclusion Criteria:
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Pilon fracture
- Bilateral ankle fracture
- Concomitant tibial fracture
- Pathological fracture
- Active infection around the ankle
- A previous ankle fracture on either side
- In trimalleolar fractures, posterior malleolus fracture sized over 30% of the distal tibia joint line measured from the lateral projection of the standard ankle radiographs
- Inadequate co-operation
- Permanent residence outside the catchment area of the study hospital
Sites / Locations
- Oulu University Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Unimalleolar Fixation
Bimalleolar Fixation
Medial malleolus is fixed first and after that ankle mortise stability is assessed using external-rotation stress test. If talocrural joint is stable after fixation of medial malleolus, the patient is randomized to unimalleolar fixation group and no fixation of the lateral side is performed.
Medial malleolus is fixed first and after that ankle mortise stability is assessed using external-rotation stress test. If talocrural joint is stable after fixation of medial malleolus, the patient is randomized to bimalleolar fixation group i.e. additional fixation of the lateral malleolus fracture is performed.