Nonoperative treatment of the medial malleolus in bimalleolar and trimalleolar ankle fractures: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES

To compare internal fixation with no fixation of the medial malleolus after open reduction and internal fixation of the lateral malleolus and if needed, the posterior malleolus.

DESIGN

Randomized prospective trial.

SETTING

Level III trauma center in a metropolitan area.

PATIENTS: One hundred patients with bimalleolar or trimalleolar Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 44 ankle fractures and displacement of the medial malleolus less than 2 mm after open reduction and internal fixation of the lateral component.

INTERVENTION: Internal fixation or nonoperative treatment of the medial malleolus.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle hind foot score (AOFAS), The Olerud Molander Ankle (OMA) score, and visual analogue pain scale (VAS).

RESULTS

Median follow-up time was 39 months (range: 24-72). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to OMA (P = 0.91), AOFAS (P = 0.85), VAS (P = 0.85), or development of osteoarthritis (P = 0.22). Reoperation and complication rates were also comparable, but 4 patients treated nonoperatively developed nonunion of the medial malleolus. These patients reported no functional disabilities and presented OMA, AOFAS, and VAS scores better than average.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that nonoperative treatment of minimally displaced fractures of the medial malleolus after operative fixation of the fibula yields satisfactory results. However, long-term follow-up is needed due to increased risk of nonunion and uncertainty regarding the development of posttraumatic arthritis.

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