Acute syndesmosis injuries associated with ankle fractures: current perspectives in management

Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2009;67(1):39-44.

Abstract

Ankle syndesmosis injuries frequently occur with ankle fractures, but their treatment remains controversial. Although specific clinical and radiographic diagnostic measures are generally well-accepted, there remains a lack of consensus with respect to the treatment of these injuries. Controversy arises at almost every phase of treatment including: type of fixation (screw size, type of implant), number of cortices required for fixation, and need for hardware removal. Regardless of fixation technique chosen, the most important goal should be anatomic reduction and restoration of the syndesmosis and ankle mortise as this is the only significant predictor of functional outcome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Ankle Injuries / diagnosis
  • Ankle Injuries / physiopathology
  • Ankle Injuries / surgery*
  • Ankle Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Ankle Joint / pathology
  • Ankle Joint / physiopathology
  • Ankle Joint / surgery*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Fracture Fixation* / instrumentation
  • Fracture Fixation* / methods
  • Fracture Healing
  • Fractures, Bone / diagnosis
  • Fractures, Bone / physiopathology
  • Fractures, Bone / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Joint Instability / diagnosis
  • Joint Instability / physiopathology
  • Joint Instability / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Recovery of Function
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome