Clinical Outcome of Bimalleolar Ankle Fracture in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

CATEGORY: Trauma; Ankle INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Diabetes is a risk factor of postoperative complication for fracture surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of bimalleolar ankle fracture in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Twenty two patients (an average age; 69.3 years, an average HbA1C; 7.6%) with bi-malleolar ankle Fracture received open reduction and internal fixation between March 2013 and January 2019. Complications related to surgery, progression to Charcot arthropathy, presence of nonunion were used for outcome analysis. The patients were followed for an average of 12.1 months. RESULTS: The nonunion rate was 4.5% (1 case over 22 cases). The incidence rate of Charcot arthropathy was 4.5% (1 case over 22 cases). The patient with Charcot arthropathy was conversed to the tibiotalarcalcaneal fusion with retrograde intramedullary nail. No wound infection or soft tissue complications related to surgery was reported. CONCLUSION: Standard open reduction and internal fixation technique showed high union rate of bimalleolar ankle fracture in patients with diabetes mellitus. The surgeon should be cautious to the Charcot arthropathy when treating ankle fracture with diabetes mellitus.