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Functional outcome analysis of operatively treated malleolar fractures
G L Belcher1, T E Radomisli, J A Abate
1Department of Orthopaedics, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence 02903, USA.
Objectives:
Assessment of functional outcome after malleolar fractures.
Design:
Retrospective call-back review of 40 patients who agreed to assessment 8-24 months after malleolar fractures.
Setting:
Acute care hospital/Level 1 trauma center with university-based orthopaedic residency. PTS/PARTICIPANTS: 1) 10 skeletally mature patients who agreed to a telephone request to return for review 8-24 months after isolated malleolar fractures (36 44B2.2, 3 44A2.3, 1 44C2.2). All had healed without apparent complications. 2) Control group of 40 age matched healthy individuals without ankle problems.
Intervention:
ORIF with standard AO/ASIF techniques.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Ankle score of Olerud and Molander, UCLA Activity Score, Pedometer count of average number of steps per day.
Results:
Patients had a mean Ankle Score of 72 (+/-19.3) vs. 100 (+/-0) for controls (p < .01). The UCLA Activity Score averaged 6.0 (+/-1.95) for the patients vs. a mean of 9.43 (+/-1.0) for controls (p < .01). Patients took an average of 4,838 steps per day (+/-3,252) vs an average of 7,607 steps per day (+/-2,859) by controls (p < .01).
Conclusions:
Significant impaired function persists for most patients 8-24 months after malleolar fractures.
