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Updated: Feb 5, 2026
C-arm-Free Simultaneous OLIF51 and Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation in a Single Lateral Position
Published on: September 16, 2022
Single-Screw Fixation Compared With Double Screw Fixation for Treatment of Medial Malleolar Fractures: A Prospective
Richard Buckley1, Ernest Kwek2, Paul Duffy1
1Section of Orthopedics, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Objectives:
To determine whether single or double screw (DS) fixation of medial malleolar fractures results in better long-term health outcomes.
Design:
Randomized clinical trial; sealed envelope technique.
Setting:
Level 1 Trauma Hospital at University of Calgary, Canada.
Patients:
One hundred forty patients were randomized to receive either 1 or 2 screws to reduce a medial malleolar fracture. Thirteen patients were excluded because of loss to follow-up (n = 127).
Intervention:
Surgical fixation of the medial malleolar fracture was performed using 1 or 2 stainless steel screws.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Primary outcome was comparison of physical functioning summary score on Short Form 36 questionnaires between patients in the 2 groups. Secondary objectives were to compare the Ankle Hindfoot Scale and operating room time. Clinical and radiographic assessment occurred at the time of injury and 2, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.
Results:
Fourteen patients crossed over from the DS group to the single screw (SS) group based on intraoperative decisions by the surgeon (fragment too small for 2 screws), leaving the SS (n = 75) and DS groups (n = 52). There was no difference in the operating room time, SF36, or Ankle Hindfoot Scale at all follow-up time points.
Conclusions:
SS medial malleolar fixation provides an equally safe and effective method of fracture care as compared to DS fixation. Twenty percent of patients receiving 2 screws can be expected to crossover to receive SS fixation as a safer alternative.
Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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