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Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 10/2022

05-06-2021 | Trauma Surgery

Efficacy of hook-type locking plate and partially threaded cancellous lag screw in the treatment of displaced medial malleolar fractures in elderly patients

Authors: Byung-ki Cho, Jun-beom Kim, Seung-Myung Choi

Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery | Issue 10/2022

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Abstract

Introduction

Traditionally, partially threaded cancellous lag screws (PTCS) are used for most medial malleolar fractures but are often challenging to execute in elderly patients because of the high risk of postoperative complications. Limited literature explores whether hook-type locking compression plates (LCPs) reliably offer better outcomes than PTCS in elderly patients. We aimed to compare the midterm radiologic and clinical outcomes between hook-type LCP and PTCS for medial malleolar fractures in an elderly population.

Methods

We included 258 patients, aged 65 years and above, treated with either a hook-type locking plate (hook LCP group: 121 patients) or PTCS (screw group: 137 patients), and with follow-ups of at least 36 months in this retrospective study. Radiographic assessments included the union rate and interval to fracture union. Clinical assessment included the postoperative complications and revision procedures.

Results

Although a significantly higher rate of comminuted fractures was observed in the hook LCP group than in the screw group (p < .001), no significant difference in the union rate was observed between the two groups (hook LCP group: 93.4% vs. screw group: 89.8%, p = .151), and a significantly shorter interval to union was observed in the hook LCP group (10.2 ± 7.0 vs. 12.3 ± 6.7 weeks, p = .015). There was a trend toward a lower rate of complications, including revision procedures, in the hook LCP group than in the screw group (19.9% vs. 28.5%, p = .107 and 6.6% vs. 13.8%, p = .074).

Conclusion

Hook-type LCP may be an alternative option for treating medial malleolar fractures with comminution in elderly patients.
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Metadata
Title
Efficacy of hook-type locking plate and partially threaded cancellous lag screw in the treatment of displaced medial malleolar fractures in elderly patients
Authors
Byung-ki Cho
Jun-beom Kim
Seung-Myung Choi
Publication date
05-06-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery / Issue 10/2022
Print ISSN: 0936-8051
Electronic ISSN: 1434-3916
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-03945-6

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