Vol. 11, Issue 4 (2025)

Introduction: Open fractures-dislocations of the tibiotarsal joint are complex injuries that require proper anatomical reduction. They affect a weight-bearing joint with complex mechanics and are associated with a high number of complications and sequelae. These are rare conditions and pose several problems: diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties, the severity of osteo-ligamentous and soft tissue injuries, and a prognosis that, even with good treatment, remains uncertain with a high risk of instability and tibio-tarsal osteoarthritis, especially if management is poor.
Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 19 patients who underwent surgery and were followed up on an outpatient basis for open ankle fracture-dislocations over a four-year period from January 2021 to December 2024 in the Orthopaedic-Traumatology Department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. We included in our study all patients over the age of 18 with a complete clinical record and excluded fractures without ankle dislocation and dislocations without fractures. The therapeutic data collected were the time to initial treatment, the type of treatment and the length of hospitalisation.
Results: A total of 19 cases with open fracture-dislocations were selected for our study, including 13 men (68.4%) and 6 women (31.5%). 2,715 patients were hospitalised during the study period, 56 of whom were admitted for an open ankle fracture-dislocation, representing 2.06% of hospitalisations. The condition was more prevalent in males, with road traffic accidents being the most common cause, particularly among young people aged 18-30. Malleolar fractures were the most common type, affecting 14 patients (73.6% of cases).
Conclusion: Indeed, for open ankle fracture-dislocations, surgery is often the treatment of choice to ensure optimal care, reduce the risk of complications and ensure adequate healing.