Presented here is a case of 40 yr. old fireman with left ankle fracture who had sustained a bad fall in line of duty. He came to us with a badly swollen deformed ankle with gross swelling. X-rays conducts and shows fractures of both inner and outer bone aka malleolus. In the triage area, the deformity is corrects within the limits of pain. The patient is get a splint to support the bones. After patient counseling. A plan was made to wait for the swelling to decrease and then take him up for surgery.
Interval management of ankle fracture
Interval management of ankle fractures is not a new concept. The same is also applicable to many other orthopedic injuries particularly around the upper part of the leg aka proximal tibia. Herein, after initial management, the patient is put on anti-inflammatory drugs and limb elevation with support. To allow the swelling to decrease and then perform the surgical procedure to allow an uncomplicated wound closure.
The outer bone aka lateral malleolusis fixed with a new implant design specially made for these fractures. The patient is get a splint to support the bones. After patient counseling. A plan was made to wait for the swelling to decrease and then take him up for surgery.
After approximately a week, the swelling decreases and the skin was so ready for surgery. The inner bone aka medial malleolus is fix with 2 screws. The same is also applicable to many other orthopedic injuries particularly around the upper part of the leg aka proximal tibia. The outer bone aka lateral malleolusis fixed with a new implant design specially made for these fractures. The plate is of titanium and has multiple screw options to allow a good fixation of the fracture. The patient went on to good healing and was early mobilization and weight bearing on fractured ankle.