Evaluation and surgical management of bimalleolar fractures of ankle joint

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the functional outcome of surgically managed bimalleolar fractures of ankle joint. Material and Methods: The surgical study was conducted on twenty seven patients at Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, Telangana, India, for a period of eighteen months. All the cases were treated by open reduction and internal fixation technique. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Baird and Jackson’s ankle scoring system. Results: In our study the operative results we achieved were good in 83.2% cases, 8.3% fair results, 8.3% poor results. Good functional results were obtained by surgical management of bimalleolar ankle fractures. Early weight bearing and mobilisation was achieved in these patients. Open reduction and internal fixation restores the articular congruity of the ankle joint. There were no intra operative complications observed in this study. Conclusions: Anatomical reduction is essential in all intra articular fractures, more so if a weight bearing joint like ankle is involved. Open reduction and internal fixation guarantee high standard of reduction besides eliminating chances of loss of reduction. Functional outcome and the results of surgery treatment were found to be good.