Background: The gold standard for the surgical management of ankle fractures is through open reduction and internal fixation. The rate of wound problems has been reported to be as high as 18%, especially in patients with poor vascular supply or in diabetics. Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) has been described as a potential solution for these patients.
Patients and methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study. From October 2009 to February 2010, and following ethical approval of our research, adult patients admitted at our level I trauma center with a closed lateral malleolar displaced unstable fracture (Lauge-Hansen supination-external rotation) with or without a medial-sided injury and patients with an undisplaced fracture associated with medial clear space opening on external rotation stress radiographs were recruited and managed using MIPPO technique. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months post-surgery (12-20 with a mean of 16.5 months). Trauma mechanism, comorbidities, classifications, trauma-surgery interval, image intensifier duration, surgery duration, complications, and function American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) were analyzed.
Results: Thirty-two patients were recruited of which 20 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (16 females, 4 males) and were available for follow-up. Ten fractures (50%) were classified as 44-B1, 7 fractures (35%) as 44-B2, and 3 fractures (15%) as 44-B3 according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification (100% were supination-external rotation injuries). At 8 weeks post-surgery, all fractures had healed. The duration of surgery ranged between 15 and 73 min (average 32.8) from skin incision to closure. There were 2 complications (1 malunion and 1 skin necrosis requiring implant removal). At 12-month follow-up, AOFAS average was 88.3 (72-100 standard deviation of 6.8 points).
Conclusion: MIPPO technique proved to be a viable option for lateral malleolar fracture treatment with a low complication rate and high functional outcome at 1 year. It is particularly useful in patients with a high risk of wound complication.