J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2017 Sep;21(3):113-116. 10.14193/jkfas.2017.21.3.113.

Unhealed Wound of the Lower Leg due to Synovial Fistula of the Ankle Joint

• Park CH
• Ryu SM
• Park JW

• KMID: 2389942
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2017.21.3.113

Abstract

Synovial fistula of the ankle joint is an uncommon complication from an ankle sprain. This may likely result in an unhealed wound around the ankle joint due to continuous leakage of joint fluid. However, in the event of an open wound on the lower leg, and not on the joint, it may be difficult to consider synovial fistula as a cause of the open wound. We experienced an interesting case with an unhealed open wound on the lower leg due to a synovial fistula of the ankle joint following an ankle sprain. We obtained good results after a treatment using a self-produced suction drainage device on the unhealed open wound.

Keyword

Unhealed wound; Synovial fistula; Ankle

MeSH Terms

Ankle Injuries
Ankle Joint*
Ankle*
Fistula*
Joints
Leg*
Suction
Wounds and Injuries*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Preoperative photograph showed that the wound was opened in the mid-portion and distal portion of the suture site (arrows).

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  Figure 2 Arthrography showed leakage of contrast media in the ankle joint (A) and communication between open wound and ankle joint (B).

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  Figure 3 Intraoperative photographs showed clear fluid and swollen peroneal muscles (A) and debrided swollen muscles (B).

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  Figure 4 Postoperative photographs showed the suture site of the wound (A) with a self-produced suction drainage device (B).

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  Figure 5 Photographs at 1-year after surgery showed complete healing without recurrence of the wound.

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