Fibula Nailing: A Retrospective Review of 110 Consecutive FibuLock Nails.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the treatment of unstable lateral malleolar fractures using a fibula nail with both proximal and distal locking capabilities.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of 110 single-surgeon consecutive fibula nails.

SETTING

Single-surgeon, private practice community hospital.

PATIENTS/

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred ten fractures, 92 OTA/AO 44B and 18 OTA/AO 44C.

INTERVENTION: FibuLock fibula nail (Arthrex, Naples, FL).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic outcome data.

RESULTS

One hundred two patients/102 fractures met criteria. Ninety percent had a f/u of ≥12 months (mean 12.2 months). All fractures healed. There were no superficial or deep infections, no nonunions, or malunions. Two fractures required conversion to plate fixation intraoperatively because of excessive comminution which precluded the use of a nail, while one patient sustained an iatrogenic superficial peroneal nerve neuroma. No patients reported implant irritation, and none have required implant removal.

CONCLUSION

Fibula nails with proximal locking capabilities offer an alternative to plating with the potential for lower complication rates and lower need for implant removal.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.