Syndesmotic Injury and Fixation in Supination-External (SE) Ankle Fractures

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Trauma
• Interventions: Procedure: fixation; Procedure: no fixation

• Registration Number: NCT01234493
• Lead Sponsor: University of Oulu

Brief Summary

The aim of our study was to determine whether transfixation of unstable syndesmosis is necessary in supination-external rotation type ankle fractures. Our hypothesis was that syndesmotic ligaments heal at the proper length after malleolar reduction and that syndesmotic transfixation is not needed in supination-external rotation fracture types.

Detailed Description

A prospective randomized study comparing syndesmotic transfixation to no fixation in AO/OTA Weber B-type ankle fractures was designed. To show a clinically significant difference (Olerud-Molander ankle score 20%, standard deviation (SD) 24 points, from our previous study) between the groups, the sample size was estimated (α=0.05, β=0.2, 20% drop out) to be 30 patients per group.

All skeletally mature patients (≥16 years old) with a unilateral Lauge-Hansen supination-external rotation type 4 ankle fractures treated within one week after injury at our hospital were considered eligible for the present study. Exclusion criteria were bilateral ankle fractures, pathologic fractures, concomitant tibial shaft fractures, previous significant injury or a fracture of either ankle, significant peripheral neuropathy, soft tissue infection in the region on either injured ankle, or inability to complete the study protocol.

After bony fixation, the 7.5-Nm standardized external rotation (ER) stress test for both ankles was performed under fluoroscopy. A positive stress examination was defined as a difference of more than 2 mm side-to-side in the tibiotalar or tibiofibular clear spaces on mortise radiographs. If the stress test was positive, the patient was randomized to either syndesmotic transfixation with 3.5-mm tricortical screws or no syndesmotic fixation.

Clinical outcome was assessed using the Olerud-Molander scoring system, RAND 36-Item Health Survey, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure pain and function after a minimum 1-year of follow-up.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-06
• Primary Completion: 2010-08
• Study Completion: 2010-08
• Study First Submitted: 2010-11-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-11-03
• Study First Posted: 2010-11-04
• Status Verified: 2016-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-05-13
• Last Update Posted: 2016-05-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 140

Inclusion Criteria

• All skeletally mature patients (≥16 years old) with a unilateral Lauge-Hansen supination-external rotation type 4 ankle fractures treated within one week after injury at our hospital

Exclusion Criteria

• Bilateral ankle fractures, pathologic fractures, concomitant tibial shaft fractures, previous significant injury or a fracture of either ankle, significant peripheral neuropathy, soft tissue infection in the region on either injured ankle, or inability to complete the study protocol.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
fixation	fixation	Syndesmosis fixation with one 3.5mm fully threaded screw
no fixation	no fixation	No syndesmosis fixation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Olerud-Molander score	minimum one year

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oulu University Hospital; 🇫🇮 Oulu, Finland