Patterns of Ankle Fractures Based on Radiographs and CT Images of 1000 Consecutive Patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Ankle fractures are common injuries requiring accurate classification for effective treatment.
• Radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging are crucial for diagnosing ankle fractures.
• Differentiating fracture types aids in patient management and surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify ankle fractures based on plain radiographs and CT images.
• To determine the frequency of different ankle fracture types in an emergency department setting.
• To evaluate the applicability of established classification systems for ankle fractures.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 1,000 patients with 1,003 ankle fractures.
• Fractures were analyzed using plain radiographs and CT scans.
• Classification involved uni-, bi-, and trimalleolar types, utilizing Herscovici, Danis-Weber, Mason and Molloy, and Lauge-Hansen systems.

Main Results:

• Medial malleolar fractures were the most frequent unimalleolar type (62.6%).
• Danis-Weber type B was the most common lateral malleolar fracture (65.5%).
• Supination-external rotation and pronation-external rotation were the most common bi- and trimalleolar injury patterns.

Conclusions:

• Medial malleolar fractures are the predominant type encountered in emergency departments.
• Established classification systems are valuable but have limitations, with 5.8% of complex fractures being unclassifiable by Lauge-Hansen.
• Improved understanding of fracture patterns can enhance patient care.