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Management of acute injuries of the tibiofibular syndesmosis

  • General Review • ANKLE - FRACTURES
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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The syndesmosis is important for ankle stability and load transmission and is commonly injured in association with ankle sprains and fractures. Syndesmotic disruption is associated with between 5 and 10% of ankle sprains and 11–20% of operative ankle fractures. Failure to recognize and appropriately treat syndesmotic disruption can portend poor functional outcomes for patients; therefore, early recognition and appropriate treatment are critical. Syndesmotic injuries are difficult to diagnose, and even when identified and treated, a slightly malreduced syndesmosis can lead to joint destruction and poor functional outcomes. This review will discuss the relevant anatomy, biomechanics, mechanism of injury, clinical evaluation, and treatment of acute injuries to the ankle syndesmosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Nicholas M. Fort, Amiethab A. Aiyer & Niall A. Smyth

  2. Orthopaedic Specialty Institute, Orange, CA, USA

    Jonathan R. Kaplan

  3. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Anish R. Kadakia

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Author Anish Kadakia has received royalties and speaking fees from Accumed, royalties from Depuy, and consulting fees from Arthrex. Authors Jonathan Kaplan and Amiethab Aiyer have received consulting fees from Paragon 28 and Medline. Authors Niall Smyth and Nicholas Fort have no conflicts of interest to report.

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Fort, N.M., Aiyer, A.A., Kaplan, J.R. et al. Management of acute injuries of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 27, 449–459 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-017-1956-2

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