Ilizarov fixation of supramalleolar fractures

Supramalleolar fractures are generally considered to be a difficult surgical challenge because they occur in a area where the tibia lies superficially with a precarious blood supply to the skin, exposing to the risk of infection and necrosis after internal fixation. These fractures are also situated close to the tibiotalar joint making centromedullary nailing difficult, even with distal locking. The Ilizarov external fixator could be an attractive alternative in this indication. We report a series of 17 supramalleolar fractures in 17 patients, 14 men and 3 women, treated with the Ilizarov external fixator between 1991 and 2001. Most were traffic accident victims and most had complex fractures resulting from high-energy trauma. There were many associated lesions. Fractures were open in ten patients. The Ilizarov fixator was used as the first intention treatment in seven patients and as a second line treatment in ten. The system allowed early weight bearing in all patients. Tolerance was generally good with a relatively low rate of superficial pin track infections (two cases). There was one case of osteitis which developed in a patient with an open fracture. There were no thromboembolic complications and no nerve involvement. Bone healing was achieved within three months in thirteen patients. There were three cases of late healing which were treated by the ascension technique using a cancellous graft and fibular osteotomy. The overall healing rate with this method was 94%. The one case of nonunion was successfully treated with an inter tibiofibular graft. The overall functional outcome was satisfactory in 76% of the patients, based on the Alho-Klemm criteria. Axial deformation predominated in the frontal plane: three patients had > 10 degrees varus in one case. These results could be improved by better operative technique. We advocate installing the patient in the supine position with transcalcaneal traction allowing good restitution of the leg axis. The assembly should be long, including the entire leg segment.