[Bimalleolar fractures and their equivalents]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology

Background:

• Malleolar fractures are common lower extremity injuries.
• Conservative treatment for malleolar fractures has shown suboptimal results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of surgical versus conservative treatment for malleolar fractures.
• To detail surgical techniques and indications for malleolar fracture management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 194 malleolar fracture cases.
• Comparison of outcomes between conservative management (164 cases) and surgical intervention (44 cases).
• Detailed description of surgical approaches and fixation methods (screwing, plating, wiring, grafting).

Main Results:

• Conservative treatment resulted in satisfactory outcomes in less than half of the cases.
• Surgical treatment achieved satisfactory results in 29 out of 33 reviewed cases after one year.
• Specific techniques were employed for different fracture patterns, including posterior malleolar fragments and tibial roof collapse.

Conclusions:

• Surgical treatment demonstrates superior outcomes compared to conservative management for malleolar fractures.
• Prompt surgical intervention is recommended to prevent complications and ensure fair repair.
• Tomographic imaging is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.