Arthroscopic findings and treatment of maisonneuve fracture complex

Background The Maisonneuve fracture complex (MFC) is a well-known lower leg injury. However, the optimal treatment is still not clear and there is limited data on concomitant injuries of cartilage. Therefore, the aim of our study was to report the incidence of incidental cartilage injuries and their management in arthroscopic treatment of MFC. Patients and methods Between February 2018 and February 2021 all patients presenting with MFC in our department were treated with diagnostic ankle arthroscopy and percutaneous syndesmotic screw or suture-endobutton fixation. In case of instable cartilage, it was debrided and according to the International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle, in grade IV lesions < 10 mm or < 100 mm2 area the subchondral bone was microfractured. Results Eighteen patients, 16 male and two female, with a mean age of 48.1 years, were included. In all cases, instability of the distal tibiofibular articulation was confirmed arthroscopically. Injuries of the cartilage were found in 56% of the cases and in 31% of the patients surgical intervention was required. In three talar and one tibial lesion additional arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation with microfracture of the subchondral bone was performed. Conclusions Ankle arthroscopy is a helpful method to guide fibular reduction and to detect and address associated cartilage injuries. Due to the high rate of chondral lesions, addressing these arthroscopically may contribute to better postoperative results. Level of evidence IV

P109 Sherlock Holmes in Clinical Practice: The Deduction of the Pattern and Mechanism of Injury in Ankle Fractures Using Lauge-Hansen System

Introduction Ankle fractures are among the commonest fractures in adults and as population ages, the incidence is also increasing. It is crucial to ascertain the mechanism of injury of an ankle fracture as it determines the management plan. The diagnosis and management of ankle fractures are usually relatively straightforward but they are not always the case. Most patients are unable to recall the exact mechanism of injury due to the instantaneous nature of incident. We herein describe a case report of a patient who sustained an ankle fracture following a fall but was unable to recall the exact mechanisms of injury. This case report addresses the importance of recognising Maisonneuve fractures and how Lauge-Hansen Classification system might be useful in diagnosing and making management plans for ankle fractures. Case Report A 30-year-old male self-presented to the Emergency Department in a wheelchair following a fall. He tripped down the last four steps of stairs the night before, sustaining a right ankle injury as a result. He has been unable to weight-bear since. Elevation and application of ice packs have showed limited effect. Patient was unable to recall the exact mechanism of injury. On examination, the right ankle was swollen and there were bruises around the medial malleolus. Upon palpation, he complained of bony tenderness around lateral and medial malleoli. No other injury was found and patient was neurovascularly intact. A referral was made to the Orthopaedics team and further orthopaedic examinations revealed tenderness and crepitus upon palpation over the proximal fibula. Full lower leg X-rays was ordered to look for possible proximal fibula fracture. A diagnosis of closed, Maisonneuve (Weber C)/trimalleolar fracture of the right ankle was made. A CT-scan of the right ankle was requested to determine the involvement of joint surface to aid surgical planning. Both CT-scan and ankle X-rays showed disrupted syndesmosis. Disrupted syndesmosis is most commonly associated with Weber C fractures as shown in this case. Since the fibular fracture is greater than 4.5cm away from the tibial plafond, syndesmosis fixation is required. In Maisonneuve fractures, syndesmotic screws can be used to achieve anatomical reduction and ankle stability. This patient was scheduled for an ORIF surgery. Discussions Based on the findings of medial and posterior malleoli fractures from the ankle X-rays, we can deduce that the patient has most likely sustained a complete Pronation-External Rotation (PER) injury. A Maisonneuve fracture was almost missed initially due to distracting injuries and not obtaining full lower leg X-rays. However, based on Lauge-Hansen Classification, we know that it is highly unlikely to have a posterior malleolus fracture (Stage 4) without any fibular fracture (Stage 3). Hence, a full-fibula X-ray was ordered to look for proximal fibula fracture and the X-rays revealed a spiral fracture at the proximal fibula (Maisonneuve fracture). The injury force was transmitted along the interosseous membrane and exited at the shaft of proximal fibula, causing a proximal fibular fracture. PER or injury sustained from an internally rotated leg on a planted foot may cause external rotation injury, resulting in a disruption of the ligaments. The syndesmosis, which provides primary support to the ankle, if disrupted, will disrupt the ankle mortise, displacing the fibula laterally, as demonstrated in this case. Conclusion As demonstrated in this case, some fractures, like the Maisonneuve fracture, can easily be missed. Due to distracting injuries, the chief complain in most cases of Maisonneuve fracture is severe ankle pain instead of the fracture site at proximal fibula. These fractures, if not identified early, can lead to poor prognosis. It is important to consider Maisonneuve fracture in all ankle injuries. A delayed diagnosis can lead to post-traumatic arthritis and pain, leading to loss of function. This case report addresses the importance of recognising easily missed fractures and how Lauge- Hansen Classification system is useful in aiding the diagnosis and management of ankle fracture

Maisonneuve fracture in a cat: disruption of the tibiofibular ligament and proximal fibular fracture

Complete tibiofibular ligament rupture leading to instability of the talocrural joint was diagnosed in a cat after a slow-speed car accident. Concomitant injuries included fracture of the proximal fibula and talocalcaneocentral luxation. In humans, an injury that includes a proximal fibular fracture and disruption of the tibiofibular ligament is described as a Maisonneuve fracture. Restoration of the tibiofibular ligament was achieved with a 1.5 mm positional screw, which also restored stability to the talocrural joint. A 2.0 mm screw was used to reduce the talocalcaneocentral luxation. No complications related to implants and healing process were registered at clinical follow-up after 8 weeks and on radiographs. A satisfactory return to function was documented long-term at 18 months postoperatively. From this clinical experience, the tibiofibular ligament appears to play an important role in maintaining stability to the lateral aspect of the talocrural joint and cats with proximal fibular fractures should be checked for concurrent tibiofibular ligament rupture as seen in the Maisonneuve fracture in humans.

Maisonneuve fracture

Introduction: Maisonneuve fracture (MF) is a generally known entity in ankle trauma. However, details about this type of injury can be found only rarely in the literature. For these reasons we have decided to perform a study on MF epidemiology and pathoanatomy. Methods: The group comprised 70 patients (47 men, 23 women), with the mean age of 48 years, who sustained an ankle fracture-dislocation involving the proximal quarter of the fibula. Ankle radiographs in three views and lower leg radiographs in two views were performed in all patients. A total of 59 patients underwent CT examination in three views, including 3D CT reconstruction in 49 of these patients. MRI was performed in 4 patients. Operative treatment was used in 67 patients; open reduction of the distal fibula into the fibular notch was opted for in 54 of them. Results: The highest MF incidence rate was recorded in the 5th decade in the whole group and in men, while in women the peak incidence was in the 6th decade. After the age of 50, the share of women significantly increased. In 64 cases, the fibular fracture was subcapital, and in 6 cases it involved the fibular head. In 24% of the patients, the fibular fracture was seen only in the lateral radiograph of the lower leg. Widening of the tibiofibular clear space was shown by radiographs in 40 cases. Posterior dislocation of the fibula (Bosworth fracture) and tibiofibular diastasis were recorded in 2 cases each. An injury to the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments was found in all 54 patients with open reduction of the distal fibula. A fracture of the medial malleolus was identified in 27 cases (39%) and a complete lesion of the deltoid ligament in 36 cases (51%); in 7 cases (10%) the medial structures were intact. A fracture of the posterior malleolus occurred in 54 (77%) patients. Osteochondral fracture of the talar dome was diagnosed in 2 patients and compression of the articular surface of the distal tibia in the region of the fibular notch in 1 patient. Conclusion: Maisonneuve fracture includes a wide range of injuries both to bone and ligamentous structures of the ankle. Therefore, CT examination is an indispensable part of assessment of this type of fracture.

Adult Tillaux Fracture in Association with Volkmann and Maisonneuve Fratures: A Case Report

Tillaux fracture is known to occur in adolescents once it happens during the transition period when the medial and central physis has finished closure, but the lateral physis is still opened. The trauma mechanism is typically external rotation ankle injury resulting in an avulsion fracture of the anterolateral tibial plafond. This fracture has rarely been reported in adults, especially associated with other injuries. We report a case of Tillaux fracture in an adult, associated with a Volkmann fracture and a Maisonneuve fracture, that were surgically treated with open reduction and internal fixation and had an excellent outcome. Recognizing and appropriately treating these injuries is key in the prevention of further degenerative arthritis and instability.

Compartment Syndrome After Ankle Arthroscopy in an Atraumatic Patient

Compartment syndromes associated with arthroscopy have been rarely reported. Compartment syndrome after knee arthroscopy has been reported in some case reports, whereas we could find only one case report of acute compartment syndrome following ankle arthroscopy after Maisonneuve fracture. However, there has been no previous report of a case of acute compartment syndrome after ankle arthroscopy in an atraumatic patient. In this article, we present a case of acute compartment syndrome during ankle arthroscopic procedures in an atraumatic patient.