This study is designed to evaluate intra-operative stress testing on detection of syndesmosis injuries. We evaluated forty patients with ankle fractures requiring surgery. Their ankles were subjected to stress examinations after each stage of fixation. These were compared to the contralateral side. Biomechanical criteria were used to predict need for syndesmosis fixation. In 42% of the fractures, intra-operative fluoroscopy found an unpredicted syndesmosis injury. In 8% the syndesmosis was intact despite prediction. Medial malleolar fixation was not adequate for syndesmosis fixation as shown by stress testing. These findings may have implications for future diagnosis and treatment of syndesmosis injuries.

This study is designed to evaluate the utility of intra-operative fluoroscopic stress testing in diagnosing tibio-fibular syndesmotic injuries.

Forty skeletally mature patients with unilateral external rotation ankle fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation were prospectively recruited. Intra-operatively the injured ankle was examined fluoroscopically using external rotation, valgus and anterior drawer stress tests, as well as static antero-posterior, mortise, and lateral ankle views. Stress testing was performed using a standardized force of 37.5 N. Stress testing was done after each stage of fixation (lateral, medial, and syndesmotic). The uninjured contralateral limb was examined as a control, and a 1 mm side to side difference was defined as a positive stress examination.

Intra-operative fluoroscopy detected unpredicted syndesmotic injuries in 42 % of ankle injuries. In all cases, fixation of the medial malleolus did not restore syndesmotic stability. In 8 % of ankle injuries, a syndesmotic injury was predicted but stress testing revealed the syndesmosis intact.

Intra-operative fluoroscopy is a more sensitive modality for detection of otherwise unpredicted syndesmotic injuries compared to criteria based upon static radiographs. Medial malleolar fixation did not add stability to syndesmotic injuries in this study.

Injuries involving the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis are difficult to detect. Previously, the decision to stabilize the syndesmosis in ankle fractures was based upon biomechanical criteria and static radiography. This and other recent studies challenge this, suggesting fluoroscopic stress testing is a better diagnostic method for these poorly tolerated injuries.

Funding: Synthes Canada, Smith Nephew Richards Inc.

Recovery after femur fractures is slow, despite rapid bone union. Causes of disability require investigation. Forty patients with isolated, diaphyseal femur fractures treated with antegrade locked intramedullary nailing were prospectively studied. Functional outcome was measured using the Western Ontario – McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA). Pain scores from the groin, buttock, thigh, and knee six months following the injury were correlated with functional outcome. Severity of pain was highest at the knee. Both knee and thigh pain had strong correlations with functional outcome measures following diaphyseal femur fractures. Further investigation into post-traumatic pain is warranted.

This study was performed to compare pain at the knee, thigh, buttock and groin with functional outcome scores 6 months following femur fractures.

Pain at the knee and thigh correlated with functional outcome measures.

Many patients with femoral fractures have prolonged disability. Knee pain is common, severe, and correlates with functional outcome.

Forty skeletally-mature patients with diaphyseal femoral fractures treated with locked antegrade intramedullary nails were prospectively enrolled. Exclusion criteria included polytrauma, ipsilateral injuries, metaphyseal extension, and pathologic fractures. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario-McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Patients were instructed to record pain in the groin, buttock, thigh or knee of the fractured extremity on a 10-point visual analog scale.

Patients reported more pain at the knee (3.7 ± 3.1), compared to the thigh (2.5 ± 2.7), buttock (1.7 ± 2.7), and groin (1.0 ± 1.7) (p=0.003). Pain and functional outcomes were plotted on scatter graphs and correlations performed using the Spearman rank test. Strongest correlations were noted between knee pain and WOMAC pain (ρ=0.748, p< 0.001), function (ρ=0.701, p< 0.001), and SMFA (ρ=0.733, p< 0.001); and between thigh pain and WOMAC pain (ρ=0.705, p< 0.001), stiffness (ρ=0.707, p< 0.001), function (ρ=0.731, p< 0.001), and SMFA (ρ=0.723, p< 0.001). Weaker correlations were noted between groin and buttock pain and functional outcomes.

Knee pain is common and severe after femur fractures. Knee and thigh pain correlate with functional outcomes. Further investigation should be directed to this common problem.

Funding: Funding from Synthes Canada, Smith and Nephew Richards Canada, and the Lawson Health Research Institute was received in support of this study.