Table 3 Internal surgical fixation technique, utilized implants and postoperative management
Surgical fixation technique | No. of patients (% of study population) |
|---|---|
Lateral fixation only | 95 (88%) |
Lateral fixation + Syndesmotic fixation | 10 (9.3%) |
Syndesmotic fixation only | 1 (0.9%) |
Fibular Rod Fixation only | 2 (1.9%) |
Syndesmotic fixation with 1 or 2 trans-syndesmotic screws | 11 (10.2%) |
Intermedullary fibular nail with trans-syndesmotic screws | 2 (1.9%) |
Postoperative bandage type | |
Orthosis (Walker boot) | 29 (26.9%) |
Circular Cast | 67 (62%) |
Change from circular cast to orthosis | 12 (11.1%) |
Immediate full weightbearing | 64 (59.3%) |
No weightbearing | 36 (33.3%) |
Partial weightbearing | 8 (7.4%) |
Patients restricted 2–4 weeks before full weightbearing | 18 (16.7%) |
Patients restricted 4–6 weeks before full weightbearing | 26 (24.1%) |
Patients restricted more than 6 weeks before full weightbearing | 4 (3.7%) |
Duration of immobilization in a bandage (median in days [Range]) | 43 [29–95] |
Patients immobilized in a bandage up to 50 days | 94 (88.7%) |
Patients immobilized in a bandage more than 50 days | 12 (11.3%) |