Purpose: To conduct a study to identify differences in complication rates and outcomes between previously recognized sub-groups commonly treated for limb length discrepancies (LLD).

Method: Forty-two males and 13 females were treated for LLD at two level-one trauma centres. Mean LLD was 4.4 cm (range 1.8 to 18cm). There were 44 femoral segments (in 41 patients) and 14 tibia segments lengthened. Forty were post-traumatic, and 18 congenital/ developmental. Objective data regarding complications, length achieved, and lengthening duration was collected from patient records. Two groups were compared for differences: Developmental (congenital and developmental etiology combined; LLD occurred prior to skeletal maturity and treatment involved creating new length) versus post-traumatic (restoration of previously existing length), and tibia versus femoral lengthening.

Results: A mean of 4.4 cm of length was achieved over a mean duration of 83 days, for a mean lengthening index of 18.9 days/cm. Superficial pin tract infections were the most common complication, occurring in 33 segments (56%). Deep infection occurred in six segments (10%). Three of these six had a history of open fracture, and a fourth had a history of infection during initial fracture management. All were successfully treated with irrigation and debridement, and exchange nailing. The developmental group had significantly greater incidence of flexion contracture (13% versus 78%, p< 0.001), and surgical correction for a contracture deformity (5% versus 61%, p< 0.001). The post-traumatic group had a significantly higher rate of painful hardware requiring removal following successful treatment of their LLD (45% versus 16%, p=0.04). Tibia segments had a significantly greater lengthening index (29 d/cm versus 18 d/cm, p=0.03).

Conclusion: Limb lengthening is an involved process with potential for serious complications. Patients who had limb-lengthening for congenital/ developmental discrepancies had a higher rate of adjacent joint contrac-ture and subsequent requirement for surgical release. Patients with post-traumatic lengthening had a higher rate of hardware removal, and the lengthening index was greater for tibiae than femora. Deep infection remains a significant concern. This study provides information for physicians and patients on the rate and type of complications that can be expected both overall, and within specific LLD treatment groups.

Purpose: Lower extremity articular fracture treatment requires acccurate diagnosis and anatomic reduction and fixation. As articular injuries, posterior malleolus (PM) fractures are still poorly defined: for example the incidence of associated PM marginal impaction and of free articular fragments is unknown. The purposes of this study were:

to define the articular injuries of PM fractures into clincially relevant groups, as complex articular injuries could require specific surgical steps;

Method: Our prospectively-collected orthopaedic trauma database (OTDB) query identified 796 ankle fractures treated operatively between 2003–2007. Of these 147 cases involved the posterior malleolus. Four were misclassified leaving 143 cases. We obtained demographic and injury data from the OTDB, and validated the OTDB coded mechanisms of injury by an individual chart review. We reviewed all radiographs to describe the PM injuries (fracture patterns and dimensions) and to identify the associated injuries.

Results: Of the 143 cases: Mean age was 50 years (sd=19), 68.5% were female, 51% were right sided injuries, and the median ISS=4 (in fact, 97.5% had ISS=4, most therefore being isolated trauma). The mean post malleolus AP size=11mm (sd=5). We identified recurrent patterns and classified the PM fracture as SIMPLE or COMPLEX (to include marginal impaction or free comminuted fragment, which should be anatomically reduced), 42% of cases (60/143) were COMPLEX (18 were impaction, 42 were free fragment). To help clinicians identify which cases could be COMPLEX we correlated (Chi-sq) the presence of a COMPLEX PM fracture to common clinical and radiographic variables. COMPLEX PM were statistically significantly associated with (p values)

an axial loading injury mechanism (.000),

For example, axial loading would result in a complex fracture in > 85% of cases. In contrast, there was a statistically significant association between a Weber C fracture and older age and the presence of a SIMPLE PM fracture. These factors being potentially “protective” from joint comminution.

Conclusion: We have defined and quantified the PM articular lesions which require anatomic reduction and fixation, beyond what has been published. We have defined clinical and radiographic criteria which, because higly associated with COMPLEX lesions, could

prompt surgeons to order further imaging (CT) to better delineate the lesion, and