A Clinical Study of the Ankle Fracture

Kim, Hyung Seok; Hur, Chang Ryong; Kim, Kyo Ung

Abstract

The ankle joint plays important biomechanical role in erect position or ambulation. The ankle injury includes bony structures with articular surface, ligaments and soft tissue injury. So the goal of treatment is anatomical reduction of ankle mortise. Fifty two patients of ankle fractures which were admitted and treated in Seoul Adventist Hospital from January, 1980 to December, 1984, were analysed in the clinical and radiological aspect. The results obtained from this study were as follows; l. Of the 52 cases, male was 39 cases(75.0%) and female was 13 cases(25.0%). The average age of the patients was 33 years with range from 18 years to 75 years. 2. The most common cause of injury was traffic accidident. Nexts were fall down, sports injury, slip down and industrial injury in orders. 3. The most common type of the ankle fractures, according to the classification of Lauge-Hansen, was supination-external rotation type(40.4%). 4. 36 cases(69.2%) were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and 16 cases(30.8%) were treated with closed reduction. Poor outcome seemed closely related to the severity of the injury and degree of fracture displacement. 5. Accurate reduction and rigid internal fixation of the lateral malleolus without shortening was important factor. Classification of Lauge-Hansen was useful in the diagnosis and treatment of the ankle fractures.