The functional consequence of syndesmotic joint malreduction at a minimum 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the correlation between syndesmotic malreduction and functional outcome.

DESIGN

Prospective evaluation of bilateral computed tomography scans and functional outcome scores.

SETTING

Level I regional trauma center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2006, 107 of 681 operatively treated ankle fractures (15.7%) had associated syndesmotic injuries requiring reduction and fixation. All patients available at a minimum of 2 years postindex procedure underwent clinical and radiographic examination, computed tomographic (CT) scanning of both ankles (injured and uninjured), and functional outcome scoring using the Short Form Musculoskeletal Assessment and Olerud/Molander questionnaires.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight of 107 (63.5%) syndesmotic injuries in 68 patients were available for follow-up. Twenty-seven (39%) were malreduced (rotational or translational asymmetry) when compared with the contralateral uninjured syndesmotic joint. Fifteen percent of the open syndesmotic reductions were malreduced on postoperative CT scans, whereas 44% (A/B) of the closed syndesmotic reductions were malreduced on postoperative CT scan (P = 0.11). Patients with a malreduced syndesmosis recorded significantly worse functional outcome scores (P < 0.05) on both the Short Form Musculoskeletal Assessment and Olerud/Molander questionnaires when compared with those patients whose syndesmosis had healed in anatomic alignment.

CONCLUSIONS

At a minimum of 2 years follow-up, patients with malreduced syndesmotic injuries demonstrated significantly worse functional outcome using the Short Form Musculoskeletal Assessment and Olerud/Molander questionnaires. Open reduction of the syndesmosis resulted in a substantially lower rate of malreduction when evaluated by postoperative CT scan. Based on these findings, we recommend that surgeons not only perform a direct, open visualization of the syndesmosis during the reduction maneuver, but obtain a postoperative CT scan with comparison to the contralateral extremity as well. If the syndesmosis is found to be malreduced, consideration must be given to revising the osteosynthesis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.