To reduce both operative trauma and wound length in plate osteosynthesis of dislocated WEBER type B fractures of the distal fibula we started using 3 hole one-third tubular „anti-glide“ AO plates in 1996 instead of longer implants.

From 1996 to 2001 a total of 72 patients with isolated WEBER type B fractures were treated operatively by using 3 hole one-third „anti-glide“ AO plates. A clinical and radiographic follow-up examination was performed after 38.6 [18–63] months using the original WEBER score. The statistical method to compare our results with previous investigations was Chi-Square-Test according to Pearson (p=0.05).

67 (93.1%) of all patients were without complaints while 3 (4.2%) complained about exercise induced pain and 2 (2.7) reported rest pain. 69 (95.8%) patients showed identical ranges of ankle joint movement, whereas 3 (4.2%) patients had minimal loss of joint function. Radiographically perfect joint configurations were seen in 69 patients while 3 (4.2%)showed grade 1 arthrosis according to BARGON. A total of 68 (94.4%) patients showed very good (n=50) or good (n=18) results according to Weber. In 4 cases the result was not satisfying. This was not significantly different from other investigations with longer implants, but scar length was reduced and duration of after-treatment was signifcantly faster than treatment with longer implants (p< 0.05).

It is concluded that operative stabilisation of isolated Weber type B ankle fractures with 3 hole dorsal „anti-glide“ AO plates can be recommended as a safe, convenient, cost-effective and simple alternative to the use of longer implants.