HERBERT SCREW FIXATION FOR NON-COMMINUTED CLOSED MEDIAL MALLEOLAR FRACTURE

Park, Dong Man; Kim, Yong Jin; Chang, Jea Won; Park, Jin Cheul

Abstract

It is known that the Salter-Harris type I and II fractures of the distal tibial epiphysis usually Non-comminuted closed displaced medial malleolar fracture has been treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Since fracture fragment of medial malleolar is usually thiner and smaller than that of lateral malleolar, it is more difficult to fix firmly than that of lateral malleolar. In the treatment of medial malleolar fracture, although various fixation methods in the treatment of medial malleolar fracture have been reported, several complications have been reported. And then authors have been tried to find fixation methods and firm fixation material for medial malleolar fracture to minimize complications. The purpose of this paper is to compare operation time, duration of bone union, the presence of complication, and results by Meyer and Kumler criteria between Herbert and malleolar screw and to introduce percutaneous Herbert screw fixation technique. Since March 1996, forty-four patients had undergone surgical intervention for medial malleolar fractures. Twenty-three Herbert screw and twenty-one malleolar screws were used. The results were as follows; The operation time was shorter in Herbert screw fixation group. There were no complications such as pain and tenderness due to hardware protrusion and metal lossening in Herbert screw fixation group. We come to the coonclusion that the Herbert screw fixation method was a little better than the malleolar screw fixation method according to comparison by Meyer and Kumler ctireria. We concluded that Herbert screw fixation was a better method for non-comminuted closed displaced medial malleolar fracture to obtain early union and to prevent postoperative complications.