With an aging population, the prevalence of fragility ankle fractures is rising. The surgical management of these injuries is challenging and associated with high rates of complications. The incidence of fragility ankle fractures is currently estimated to be around 150 per 100,000 people annually and is anticipated to rise to around 269 per 100,000 by 2030. The aim of surgery is to restore mobility, preserve function and to prevent complications related to non-weight-bearing and the application of hind foot nail (HFN) seems to provide these advantages. This systematic review aims to investigate the role of HFN in the treatment of fragility ankle fractures. We aim to review the available evidence published on the functional recovery observed in patients following treatment with HFN and the observed complications in the literature. A review of the current literature was conducted to identify recent systematic reviews on the use of HFN in the treatment of fragility ankle fractures. Our electronic search included the following databases; Web of Sciences, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, MEDLINE, CINHAL, and Academic Search Premier. We also conducted a web search using Google Scholar for sake of completeness. Studies published from the inception of data until September 2019 that assess the effectiveness of HFN in patients with osteoporotic ankle fractures were included. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were read in full and assessed against the eligibility criteria.Introduction
Materials and Methods