High-Energy Transsyndesmotic Ankle Fracture Dislocation-Injury Characteristics, Radiographic Outcomes, and Factors Affecting the Rate of Posttraumatic Arthritis in Logsplitter Injuries.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate patient demographics, injury characteristics, radiographic outcomes, and identify risk factors for developing posttraumatic arthritis in high-energy transsyndesmotic ankle fracture dislocations or "logsplitter" injuries.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Academic level one trauma center.

PATIENTS/

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-seven adult patients with logsplitter injuries.

INTERVENTION: All patients were treated with open reduction internal fixation, with possible addition of syndesmosis screw(s) and deltoid repair.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The rate of posttraumatic arthritis at one year along with rate and reasons for reoperation.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients were included with a mean follow-up of 14.5 ± 12.5 months. At one-year postoperative, 14 of the 20 patients (70%) demonstrated posttraumatic arthritis. Two patients (7.4%) went onto fusion. The reoperation rate was 51.9%. There was no significant difference in the arthritis rate with the number of syndesmosis screws used, quality of reduction, or addition of deltoid repair.

CONCLUSIONS

The logsplitter injury is one with devastating outcomes and high rates of arthritis; it should be considered separately from conventional ankle fractures. The role of deltoid repair remains unclear. Further study of this injury pattern is required.

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