Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Functional outcomes after syndesmotic screw fixation and removal
Anna N Miller1, Omesh Paul, Sreevathsa Boraiah
1Orthopaedic Trauma Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA. millera@hss.edu
Objectives:
Ankle fractures with a syndesmotic injury have historically been treated with syndesmotic screw fixation. We compared range of motion and functional outcomes' scores to assess patient benefit from syndesmotic screw and plate removal.
Design:
Level IV--case series.
Setting:
Level I--trauma center.
Patients/Participants:
Twenty-five consecutive patients with unstable ankle fractures and syndesmotic injury confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging.
Intervention:
Locked syndesmotic screws and plates were removed; functional outcomes and range of motion were measured before and after screw removal.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, Olerud and Molander Ankle Score, and physical examination
Results:
There was a significant improvement in range of motion, Foot and Ankle Outcome, and Olerud and Molander Ankle scores at the immediate postoperative visit. This was not significantly changed at longer follow-up. There were no adverse events or complications in these patients. No patient had radiographic loss of syndesmotic reduction after screw removal.
Conclusions:
Locked screw and plate removal improved function both subjectively and objectively. Transsyndesmotic implant removal seems to assist improvements in the speed of rehabilitation.
