Abstract: Background: Ankle fractures with Syndesmotic injury are common in Orthopaedic practice. Fractures of the ankle are the second most common significant lower extremity fractures. Surgical management for Syndesmotic injuries is indicated to prevent crippling disabilities. Syndesmotic ankle injuries disrupt normal joint functioning, hence need meticulous diagnosis and management.
Objective: To evaluate the functional outcome of surgically managed ankle fractures with Syndesmotic diastasis using AOFAS score.
Materials and methods: In this study, 21 patients diagnosed as ankle fractures with Syndesmotic diastasis, underwent Syndesmotic screw fixation using 3.5mm cortical screws in addition to anatomical fixation of medial and lateral malleolus. Functional outcome was analyzed at 6 months using AOFAS score.
Results: In this study, 33.3% (7 patients) of patients had excellent outcome, 42.9% (9 patients) patients had good outcome, 14.3% (3 patients) had fair outcome, while 9.5% (2 patients) had poor outcome.2 patients developed superficial wound infection, treated with IV antibiotics. One patient developed non union and one patient with delayed union.
Conclusion: For all cases of Ankle fractures with Syndesmotic diastasis, open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fracture with Syndesmotic screw fixation helped to achieve good union of fractures and pain free, stable ankle joint. It also facilitated early mobilization of the patients.
