
Acute syndesmotic injuries in ankle fractures: From diagnosis to treatment and current concepts
Author(s) -
Francesco Pogliacomi,
Massimo De Filippo,
Daniele Casalini,
A Longhi,
Fabrizio Tacci,
Rocco Perotta,
Francesco Pagnini,
Silvio Tocco,
Francesco Ceccarelli
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of orthopedics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 43
ISSN - 2218-5836
DOI - 10.5312/wjo.v12.i5.270
Subject(s) - medicine , ankle , current (fluid) , syndesmosis , surgery , fibula , tibia , electrical engineering , engineering
A stable and precise articulation of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis maintains the tibiofibular relationship, and it is essential for normal motion of the ankle joint. The disruption of this joint is frequently accompanied by rotational ankle fracture, such as pronation-external rotation, and rarely occurs without ankle fracture. The diagnosis is not simple, and ideal management of the various presentations of syndesmotic injury remains controversial to this day. Anatomical restoration and stabilization of the disrupted tibiofibular syndesmosis is essential to improve functional outcomes. In such an injury, including inadequately treated, misdiagnosed and correctly diagnosed cases, a chronic pattern characterized by persistent ankle pain, function disability and early osteoarthritis can result. This paper reviews anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of this syndesmosis, the mechanism of its acute injury associated to fractures, radiological and arthroscopic diagnosis and surgical treatment.