Concomitant Factors Associated With Tillaux-Chaput Fractures in Adults: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Care
• Radiology

Background:

• Tillaux-Chaput fractures (TCFs) involve the anterolateral distal tibia and are rarely isolated in adults.
• Missed TCFs can lead to chronic pain, instability, and ankle osteoarthritis.
• Identifying factors associated with TCFs is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify clinical and radiographic factors associated with the presence of Tillaux-Chaput fractures (TCFs) in adult ankle injuries.
• To analyze factors related to different subtypes of TCFs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 1134 ankle fractures, with 83 confirmed TCFs via CT scan.
• TCFs classified into types 1, 2, and 3.
• Multivariate logistic regression used to analyze associations between TCF presence/subtypes and various injury characteristics.

Main Results:

• Age ≥50 years (OR 2.73) and pronation external rotation injuries (OR 2.94) were significantly associated with TCFs.
• Ankle dislocation/subluxation (OR 3.16) and absence of posterior malleolar fracture (OR 5.97) were linked to TCF types 2 and 3.

Conclusions:

• Age ≥50 years and pronation external rotation injuries are independent risk factors for TCFs.
• Ankle dislocation/subluxation and lack of posterior malleolar fracture correlate with more severe TCF subtypes.
• Findings aid in understanding TCF etiology and improving diagnostic accuracy in adults.