Ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation in patients with cerebral palsy

To examine patients with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for ankle fractures.

This was a retrospective study of adult patients undergoing ankle fracture ORIF for closed, isolated ankle fractures identified in between 2010 and 2021 in the Q1 PearlDiver M151 database. Patients with CP were identified with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes, and were matched to those without 1:10 on age, sex, and Elixhauser comorbidity index (ECI). Ninety-day adverse events were assessed with multivariable logistic regression.

A total of 148 993 patients with isolated ankle fracture ORIF were identified, of whom 407 (0.27%) had CP. After matching, 3863 without CP were compared to 389 with CP. Patients with CP were at increased odds of: 90-day urinary tract infection (odds ratios [OR] 6.26), pneumonia (OR 3.50), minor adverse events (OR 3.46), sepsis (OR 3.30), any adverse events (OR 3.04), emergency department visits (OR 2.28), serious adverse events (OR 1.77), and prolonged length of stay more than 4 days (OR 22.44) (p < 0.001 for all).

Patients with CP undergoing ORIF for isolated, closed ankle fractures are at increased odds of several 90-day adverse events and prolonged length of stay compared to matched patients without CP.

Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were at increased odds of 90-day adverse events. Many of the 90-day adverse events related to previously described comorbidities associated with CP. Patients with CP undergoing ankle fracture ORIF experienced increased rates of prolonged length of stay.