Comparison of the Results of Complex Ankle Fractures Treated With and Without Ankle Arthroscopy

Summary

Background: An anatomical reconstruction of ankle congruity is an important prerequisite in the operative treatment of acute ankle fractures. But, despite an anatomic reduction, patients suffer from residual problems like chronic pain, stiffness, persistent swelling and instability after these fractures. There is growing evidence, that this poor outcome is related to the concomitant traumatic intraarticular pathology. Therefore, supplementary ankle arthroscopy has been proposed in acute ankle fractures as it is a valuable tool to confirm the anatomic reposition and to further identify and manage associated intraarticular injuries. The arthroscopic treatment of these pathologies might result in a better outcome after complex ankle fractures. Nevertheless, until now, the vast majority of ankle fractures are managed by open procedures only. Still, indications for arthroscopically assisted open reduction and internal fixation (AORIF) are not clearly stated, and the effectiveness of AORIF compared with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) has not yet been determined for complex ankle fractures. In this context, only a prospective randomized study can sufficiently answer these open questions. Therefore, the investigators plan a randomized controlled trial intended to report the short-, midterm- and long-term follow-up of patients who underwent operative treatment of acute ankle fractures - with and without ankle arthroscopy.

Methods/Study design: The investigators will perform a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of AORIF compared to ORIF with a sample size of 40 patients per group. The investigators include patients with an acute ankle fracture after written informed consent. Primary outcome of the investigators' study is the difference of the AOFAS score (American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society) between the intervention (AORIF) and comparison (ORIF) group after a follow-up of 2 years. Several secondary outcome parameters will be assessed as well. Statistical analysis will be performed using a two-sided Student's t-test.

Discussion: Until today, there are only two randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) compared to arthroscopically assisted open reduction and internal fixation (AORIF). Both studies only included patients with isolated fractures of the distal fibula at the level of the syndesmosis. These are the most simple fractures that are regularly treated operatively. Both studies documented a high incidence of intraarticular disorders in the AORIF group, but only one could show significant better results in the AORIF group. Moreover, several other studies could consistently demonstrate that the intraarticular damage is even more pronounced the more complex the fracture is. Consequently, a more distinctive effect of arthroscopy in complex fractures involving two malleoli or more has to be assumed when compared to these simple fractures.

Conditions

• Ankle Fractures

Interventions

DEVICE

Arthroscope

AORIF - arthroscopically assisted open reduction and internal fixation of acute ankle fractures

OTHER

No arthroscope

ORIF - open reduction and internal fixation of acute ankle fractures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hans Polzer, M.D. · Munich University Clinic, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Department of Trauma Surgery, Foot and Ankle Surgery, LMU, Munich

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-07-31

Primary Completion

2017-06-30

Completion

2025-06-30

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations