Early management of displaced ankle fractures

We reviewed all ankle fractures over a 6-year period and selected those with greater than 33 per cent subluxation of the talus to assess the early management and the incidence of skin complications. A total of 60 fractures were identified; none were reduced as an emergency procedure on admission to the accident department and seven developed ischaemic necrosis over the medial skin incision. We suggest that early reduction in the accident and emergency department may help to prevent this complication.