Intra-articular Avulsion Fractures of the Malleolus in Chronic Ankle Pain

Han, Seung Hwan; Lee, Jin Woo; Kim, Sung Hwan; Kang, Eung Shick; Kim, Sung Jae

Abstract

PURPOSE: We report our results of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic avulsion fracture of the malleolus in chronic ankle pain, and also analyzed the clinical and radiological features for evaluating the good candidate for arthroscopic treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fourteen patients who were diagnosed with intra-articular avulsion fractures of the malleolus received arthroscopic surgery and were followed up for at least a year. The clinical and radiological characters including MRI and arthroscopic findings were reviewed. Clinical assessments were done according to the AOFAS score system.
RESULTS
There was a history of inversion type of the injury in most cases and local tenderness of lesion site was a unique. MRI study showed thickened anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) in 8 cases (57%) and discontinued ATFL in 3 cases (21%). Enhanced signal surrounding soft tissue corresponding to synovial inflammation and impingement was found in 12 cases (86%). Preoperative score of all patients were 74.0+/-5.5, which improved to 89.3+/-6.7 at the follow-up after the treatment (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Most patients had history of injury and localized tenderness in the area coinciding with radiological findings. Thickened ATFL and contrast enhancement around the ossicle were frequently found. Symptomatic avulsion fractures of the malleolus associated with the clinical and radiological findings above could be a good candidate for arthroscopic treatment.