Background - Fractures of the medial malleolus (MM) are involved in approximately 50% of all ankle fractures and can occur alone or as part of a bimalleolar or trimalleolar injury of the ankle. Medial-malleolar-fracture pattern consists of 57% transverse fractures, 26% oblique fractures, and 6% vertical fractures.
Aim - To evaluate and compare consequence of vertical medial malleolar fracture managed with cannulated-screw fixation versus plating.
Patients and Methods In this prospective cohort study including 20 patients were collected from the outpatient clinic of orthopedic Surgery departments Al-Azhar University Hospital & Assuit Police Hospital from April 2021 to May 2022 classified into two groups, Group (A): patients managed by canulated screws and Group (B): patients managed by internal fixation by plates.
Results - Our results revealed that no significant difference between both groups (p-value > 0.05) regarding demographic data, mode of trauma and Lauge-Hansen classification highest frequency for SA Ⅱ type (11 (55%) cases). Mean operative time was 30 minutes for group A and 45 minutes for group B, incidence of wound complications with high incidence for group B and functional outcomes Group B had a significant result in AOFAS and VAS with a significant difference between both groups (p-value < 0.05).
Conclusion - Plating Fixation strategy has showed that it is possible to produce good functional results with high rates of union and a low proportion of reported postoperative complications. However, in our trial plating fixation showed better functional results and low incidence of malunion.