Nonunion of a fracture of the lateral malleolus is a rare condition. We present a case of established nonunion of a fracture of the lateral malleolus confirmed and treated surgically, using debridement and internal fixation with autologous bone graft. At 5-year follow-up, the fracture was united but the patient still showed clinical signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Male gender, supination fractures, Weber type C fractures, and primary internal fixation are cited as possible risk factors. Prognosis is variable.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
. BohlerL.: Die Technik der Knochenbruch Behandlunng. Wien, Maudrich, 1957, p. 2074–2077
2.
. CaveE.F.: Complications of the operative treatment of fractures of the ankle.Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res., 42: 13–19, 1965
3.
. CohenJ.FoultzW.S.: Failure by corrosion of a Steinmann pin used for intramedullary fixation.J. Bone Joint Surg., 42A: 1201–1206, 1960
4.
. FackertS.: Zur operativen Behandlung von Knochelbruchen und Pseudarthrosen.Arch. Orthop. U Unfall. Chir., 46: 513–521, 1954
5.
. HallockH.: Arthrodesis of ankle joint for old painful fractures.J. Bone Joint Surg., 27A: 49–58, 1945
6.
. JonesW.C.NealE.G.: Survey of fractures of medial malleolus.South. Med. J., 55: 1054–1059, 1962
7.
. LutzelerH.: Die Entstehung der Pseudarthrose nach bruch des innern Knochels.Deutsch. Z. Chir., 226: 404–407, 1930
8.
. MendelsohnH.A.: Nonunion of malleolar fractures of the ankle.Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res., 42: 103–118, 1965
9.
. PizioZ.MazurJ.: Staw rzekomy kostki bocznej goleni (Pseudoarthrosis of the lateral malleolus).Chir. Narzad. Ruchu., 33: 411–415, 1968
10.
. PouyanneL.HontonJ.L.GourdonA.PlanésA.ClaracJ.P.: Deux observations de pseudarthrose de la malleole externe.Bordeaux Chir., 3: 110, 1965
11.
. RostockP.: Die Malleolarpseudarthrosen.Langenbecks Arch. Klin. Chir., 191: 557–568, 1938
12.
. SiliskiJ.BlitzerC.HealyW.BaumgaertnerM.CarrC.: Non-union of the fibula after ankle fracture.Orthop. Trans., 18: 22, 1994
13.
. SneppenO.: Pseudoarthrosis of the lateral malleolus.Acta Orthop. Scand., 42: 187–200, 1971
14.
. SneppenO.: Treatment of pseudoarthrosis involving the malleolus: a post-operative follow-up of 34 cases.Acta Orthop. Scand., 42: 201–216, 1971
15.
. Van De VoordeC.deWulfA.VereckenE.: Sequelleas des traumatismus de cou-de-pied.Acta Orthop. Belg., 16: 117–123, 1950