Case-control studies on modified anterolateral approach with modified postmedial approach for the treatment of trimalleolar fractures

Abstract

To compare clinical effect of modified anterolateral approach combined with modified posteromedial approach and conventional posterolateral approach combined with medial-aided in treating trimalleolar fractures. From January 2015 to August 2017, 108 patients with trimalleolar fractures were enrolled and randomly divided into modified approaches (experimental group) and conventional approaches(control group). There were 53 patients in experimental group including 31 males and 22 females aged from 18 to 67 years old with an average of(40.2±16.4) years old; 19 patients on the left side and 34 patients on the right side; 39 patients were supination external rotation and 14 patients were pronation-external rotation; preoperative waiting time ranged from 6 to 14 d with an average of(9.6±3.1) d; performed operation through modified anterolateral approach combined with modified posteromedial approach. There were 55 patients in control group, including 34 males and 21 females aged from 19 to 69 years old with an average of (42.1±15.3) years old; 18 patients on the left side and 37 patients on the right side; 42 patients were supination external rotation and 13 patients were pronation-external rotation; preoperative waiting time ranged from 7 to 16 d with an average of (10.3±3.4) d; performed operation through conventional posterolateral approach combined with medial-aided. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, cases of incision complications and excellent-good reduction, fracture healing time, cases of nerve injury and muscular flexor contracture, cases of incision complications between two groups were compared; AOFAS score were used to evaluate clinical efficacy at 1 year after operation. All patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of (16.4 ±7.5) months. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume and incision complication in experimental group were (95.3±22.6) min, (114.7±68.7) ml, (127.5±87.8) ml and 1 case, respectively; while in control group were (112.5±53.8) min, (155.2±79.6) ml, (178.4±73.8) ml and 3 cases respectively; the data in experimental group were better than that of control group. In experimental group, 36 cases got excellent results, 14 good and 3 poor on the quality of reduction, while 30 patients got excellent results, 15 good and 10 poor in control group; the experimental group was better than control group. Fracture healing time in experimental group were(5.5±1.6) months, 2 patients occurred incision complications, while(6.7±2.1) months, 12 patients in control group; the experiment group were better than control group. Postoperative AOFAS score at 12 months in experimental group was 92.9±18.4, and better than control group 80.3±38.3; 32 patients got excellent results, 17 good, 3 moderate and 1 poor in experimental group; 25 patients got excellent results, 18 good, 8 moderate and 4 poor in control group; there was statistical difference between two groups. Both of modified anterolateral approach combined with modified posteromedial approach and conventional posterolateral approach combined with medial-aided in treating trimalleolar fractures could receive good clinical effect. While compared with conventional posterolateral approach combined with medial-aided, modified anterolateral approach combined with modified posteromedial approach is more fit for blood supply of local soft tissue, and has advantages of less trauma, safety operation and clearly exposure.