Background: The suture anchors for the repair of deltoid ligament in rotational ankle fracture are inserted mostly into the medial malleolus, but sometimes are placed into the talus depending on the rupture site. This study sought to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of deltoid ligament repair according to using these 2 locations for suture anchor placement.
Methods: The cases of 131 patients (114 patients with suture anchors on the medial malleolus and 17 patients with suture anchors on the talus) who underwent deltoid ligament repair along with ankle fracture fixation were retrospectively reviewed. Medial clear space oblique (MCSo), medial clear space perpendicular (MCSp), tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), and tibiofibular overlap (TFO) were measured as radiological outcomes, while the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) and visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain were calculated as clinical outcomes. The follow-up period did not differ between the 2 groups (16.8 ± 10.9 months in the medial malleolus group vs 17.9 ± 14.3 months in the talus group; P = .670).
Results: There were no differences in MCSo, MCSp, TFCS, and TFO at 3 months after surgery and final follow-up. The OMAS and VAS for pain did not show intergroup differences at final follow-up.
Conclusion: The surgical outcome of deltoid ligament repair in rotational ankle fracture did not differ whether the suture anchors were inserted into the medial malleolus or into the talus.
Level of evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Keywords: ankle joint; ligaments; suture anchors; talus.