Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare functional outcomes of adolescents with and without ankle syndesmotic injuries and identify predictors of functional outcome after operative ankle fractures.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted on operative adolescent ankle fractures treated between 2009 and 2019 with a minimum of one-year follow-up (mean 4.35 years). Patients who underwent syndesmotic fixation (SF) (n = 48) were compared with operative ankle fractures without syndesmotic injury (n = 63). Functional outcomes were assessed using standardized questionnaires, specifically the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation.

Results

There were no differences in patient-reported outcomes, rates of return to sport or complications between groups with and without SF. The SF group had a longer tourniquet time (p = 0.04), duration of non-weight-bearing (p = 0.01), more Weber C fibula fractures (p < 0.001), fewer medial malleolus fractures (p = 0.03) and more frequently underwent implant removal (p < 0.0001). Male sex, lower body mass index (BMI) and longer duration of follow-up were significant predictors of a higher FAAM sports score using multivariable linear regression. SF was not a predictor of functional outcome.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that patients that undergo surgical fixation of syndesmotic injuries have equivalent functional outcomes compared to operative ankle fractures without intraoperative evidence of syndesmotic injury. We also identified that male sex, lower BMI and longer duration of follow-up are predictors of a good functional outcome.

Level of evidence

III.

Background

The ligamentum teres (LT) is believed to have a number of functions, including a role in hip stability, nociception, proprioception, vascular supply to the femoral head, and synovial fluid circulation. The LT is often excised in the process of performing a medial open reduction (MOR) of the hip. We sought to conduct a retrospective review of hips undergoing a MOR for dislocated infantile developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes for patients with and without LT reconstruction.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 38 hips treated with MOR with or without LT reconstruction with minimum two-year follow-up. Radiographic outcomes were determined using the Severin score. Information regarding avascular necrosis (AVN), concomitant surgical procedures, repeat dislocation, subsequent surgery, limp, pain, and range of motion symmetry was recorded.

Results

Eighteen hips that underwent MOR with LT reconstruction were compared to 20 hips that underwent MOR without LT reconstruction. Mean follow up for this cohort was 70.1 months (median: 61.8; Range: 24.2 to 182.2 months). The group with LT reconstruction had an 11% rate of AVN, the group without LT reconstruction had a 15% rate of AVN (p=1.0) No hips in either group re-dislocated or had pain at final follow up. Two hips (5%) had a limp at most recent follow up, all were in the group that did not receive a LT reconstruction (p=0.488). Three hips (17%) in the LT reconstruction group and one hip (5%) in the other group had asymmetrical hip range of motion at final follow up (p=0.328).

Conclusion

This study offers preliminary data to suggest that ligamentum teres reconstruction is a safe procedure that can minimize the risk for subluxation or re-dislocation that can occur within the post reduction hip spica cast. Although in this study, the patients who did not have LT reconstruction had a similar re-dislocation rate, we believe that ligamentum teres preservation is a useful adjunct to medial open reduction, especially in centers that may only treat occasional cases or have less experience in applying an excellent hip spica cast.Level of Evidence: III.