Inferior tibio-fibular diastasis treated by staple fixation

This paper concerns the operative treatment of the total syndesmotic rupture of the ankle fractures classified as pronation-eversion fractures, stage III and IV, according to Lauge Hansen in 1942. Stabilization of the syndesmosis by a screw between the fibula and the tibia is well known. However, the method involves a risk of inaccurate positioning of the fibula in the incisura tibiae and of injury of the syndesmosis. A method of staple fixation of the syndesmosis in combination with rigid and anatomic osteosynthesis or the fibular fracture is presented and found suitable for securing the syndesmosis during healing. The followup results, range 3 to 10 years, of 16 ankle fractures treated in this way are promising.