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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Daniel Burrow, Stephen Bromage, Peter Briggs
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Syndesmotic stability in ankle fractures is usually assessed intraoperatively by pulling on the fibula with a bone hook in the coronal plane ("Hook Test"). Our clinical observations have suggested that instability may be more marked in the sagittal plane. Our aim was to compare movement at the tibio-fibular syndesmosis in the sagittal and coronal planes after sequential ligament division in a cadaver model. Seven specimens were used. The Hook Test was performed in both the sagittal and coronal planes. Movement was assessed by measuring the displacement of parallel k-wires. In all specimens, the anterior tibio-fibular, interosseous and posterior tibio-fibular ligaments were sequentially divided. In three specimens the deltoid ligament was then divided and the interosseous membrane in another three. After division of all three syndesmosis ligaments the mean displacement was 8.8 mm (±3.9) in the sagittal plane and 1.5 mm (±0.4) in the coronal plane. When the deltoid ligament was then divided, the displacement increased to 11.7 mm (±2.4) and 3.2 mm (±0.5), respectively. When the interosseous membrane was divided the measurements were 12.7 mm (±4) and 3.1 mm (±1.5). Movements were consistently greater in the sagittal plane than the coronal plane and we conclude that distal tibio-fibular instability should be assessed in the sagittal plane. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author(s): Candal-Couto JJ, Burrow D, Bromage S, Briggs PJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Injury
Year: 2004
Volume: 35
Issue: 8
Pages: 814-818
ISSN (print): 0020-1383
ISSN (electronic): 1879-0267
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2003.10.013
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2003.10.013
PubMed id: 15246807
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