FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL FIXATION IN BIMALLEOLAR FRACTURES OF ANKLE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: One of the main causes of morbidity in both young people and the elderly has been shown to be ankle fractures. In this study, the functional outcome and the factors related to the functional outcome of patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery at our center will be evaluated. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study of 30 patients undergoing fixation using screws or plates for the medial malleolus and fixation of the lateral malleolus with plates or pins will be conducted after receiving approval from the institutional ethical committee and the necessary authorities. The study was conducted in the R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre associated with the Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar. From September 2022 to December 2023. Results were evaluated using Baird and Jackson score. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled during the study period; their mean age was 40.77%. and their mean radiological union was 11.04%. In our patient sample, supination external rotation was the most often observed injury. 10% of patients had superficial skin infections after surgery, while 16.7% had swelling. As per the Baird and Jackson score, 63.3% of patients had an outstanding clinical functional outcome, 26.7% had a good outcome, 6.7% had a fair outcome, and 3.3% had a bad outcome. CONCLUSION: Our research led us to the conclusion that, in skilled hands, open reduction and internal fixation, using screws or plates for the medial malleolus and plating or pins for the lateral malleolus, is a very successful treatment option for bimalleolar fractures. KEYWORDS: