Functional outcome analysis of operatively treated malleolar fractures

Objectives: Assessment of functional outcome after malleolar fractures. Design: Retrospective call-back review of 40 patients who agreed to assessment 8-24 months after malleolar fractures. Setting: Acute care hospital/level 1 trauma center with university-based orthopaedic residency. PTS/Participants: 1) 10 skeletally mature patients who agreed to a telephone request to return for review 8-24 months after isolated malleolar fractures (36 44B2.2, 3 44A2.3, 1 44C2.2). All had healed without apparent complications. 2) Control group of 40 age matched healthy individuals without ankle problems. Intervention: ORIF with standard AO/ASIF techniques. Main Outcome Measurements: Ankle score of Olerud and Molander, UCLA Activity Score, Pedometer count of average number of steps per day. Results: Patients had a mean Ankle Score of 72 (+/-19.3) vs. 100 (+/-0) for controls (p < .01). The UCLA Activity Score averaged 6.0 (+/-1.95) for the patients vs, a mean of 9.43 (+/-1.0) for controls (p < .01). Patients took an average of 4,838 steps per day (+/-3,252) vs an average of 7,607 steps per day (+/-2,859) by controls (p < .01). Conclusions: Significant impaired function persists for most patients 8-24 months after malleolar fractures.