Fibula Nail Outcomes in Soft Tissue Compromised Ankle Fractures.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Trauma care
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Fibula fractures are common lower limb injuries.
• Optimal surgical fixation methods are continuously being evaluated.
• Indications for fibula nail use require further clinical clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess clinical outcomes of fibula nail fixation for lower limb fractures.
• To identify specific indications for employing fibula nails in fracture treatment.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 95 adult patients with AO/OTA 44 fibula fractures.
• Data collected from two major trauma centers and nine trauma units (January 2018 - October 2020).
• Evaluated outcomes included infection, hardware complications, union rates, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

• The infection rate was 4.2%, with a 5.2% metalwork complication rate.
• Nonunion or malunion occurred in 8.4% of cases; hardware removal was 2.1%.
• Average union time was 12.5 weeks, with an average inpatient stay of 9.4 days.

Conclusions:

• Fibula nail fixation demonstrates a low complication rate in this cohort.
• This method is a safe option for patients with higher surgical risk, compromised soft tissues, and complex fracture patterns.