Comparing TightRope and Syndesmotic Screw Fixation for Ankle Injuries
Author Information
Author(s): Muacevic Alexander, Adler John R, Quek Fang Fang, Jundi Humam, Aktselis Ioannis, Elgalli Mosab
Primary Institution: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Hypothesis
What are the clinical outcomes of TightRope fixation compared to syndesmotic screw fixation in managing acute traumatic ankle syndesmotic injuries?
Conclusion
The study found that TightRope devices are associated with lower metalwork removal rates compared to syndesmotic screws.
Supporting Evidence
- The study included 217 patients with ankle syndesmotic injuries.
- TightRope fixation had a 11% removal rate compared to 28% for syndesmotic screws.
- The most common reason for metalwork removal was broken or loosened screws.
Takeaway
This study looked at two ways to fix ankle injuries and found that one method, called TightRope, is better because fewer people needed to have it taken out later.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with ankle syndesmotic injuries who underwent surgical fixation using either TightRope devices or syndesmotic screws.
Potential Biases
Reliance on electronic medical records may introduce reporting inconsistencies.
Limitations
The study is limited to a single institution and may not be generalizable due to a relatively small cohort.
Participant Demographics
The cohort consisted of 132 females (61%) and 85 males (39%), aged between 13 and 93 years, with a mean age of 49 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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