• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.88-91
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the effect on clinical course of heterotopic ossification of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis after ankle fractures. Materials and Methods: From June 2001 to May 2004, we found nine cases of heterotopic ossification of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis after ankle fractures. There were 8 male patients and 1 female patient; their mean age was 42 years old. There were 6 Weber type B and 2 Weber type C fractures, and there is 1 case with posterior malleolus fracture only. Among them, 8 ankle fractures were operated. Follow up period was averaged for 14 months. We were able to review radiographs at initial injury and to review clinical menifestation and radiographs at last follow up. We used an ankle-hindfoot scoring system of AOFAS which combined symptom, function and alignment with maximum score of 100 point. Results: In all cases ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion were not significantly different from that of the contralateral side. The patients who had developed heterotopic ossification in distal tibiofibular syndesmosis had a similar functional score. The mean ankle-hind foot score was 94 points. Conclusion: We concluded that the heterotopic ossification of distal tibiafibular syndesmosis after ankle fractures had little effect on clinical course and range of motion of ankle joint.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

Purpose: We studied the diagnostic value of ultrasonography to confirm the presence of the syndesmosis injuries in the ankle. Materials and Methods: Pre-operative ultrasonography were taken in 42 cases of ankle fractures to determine injury of syndesmosis between February 2000 and August 2003. Tear of syndesmosis was confirmed when they met the following criteria; widening of distal tibiofibular clear space greater than 7 mm on pre-operative AP X-rays, leakage of contrast dye during intra-operative arthrography, and operative findings revealing syndesmosis rupture. We compared these diagnoses with those made by pre-operative ultrasonography. Results: Syndesmosis injuries were confirmed in 23 cases among the total 42 cases. Ultrasonography revealed syndesmosis tear in 25 cases, with 20 cases corresponding with confirmed tear and 5 cases without tear in confirm. Syndesmoses were found to be intact in 17 cases of ultrasonograph, but 3 cases were actually confirmed tear. In ankle ultrasonography, the sensitivity was 90.9%, the specificity was 75.0%. Conclusion: Preoperative ultrasonography is a non-invasive and useful study to determine the syndesmosis injury in ankle fractures.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.176-181
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcome of syndesmosis fixation using TightRope$^{TM}$ (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA) in acute syndesmosis injuries. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients with acute syndesmosis injuries, treated using TightRope$^{TM}$, were reviewed. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at the last follow-up (at least 12 months postoperatively). Clinical outcomes were assessed using American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and self-subjective satisfaction survey. Three radiologic parameters were evaluated two times at the preoperative and final follow up from the nonweightbearing ankle anteroposterior radiographs. Results: The mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 95.5 at the final follow-up. According to the satisfaction survey, 21 patients chose excellent, and four patients chose good. All radiologic parameters, including the mean tibiofibular clear space, mean tibiofibular overlap, and mean medial clear space on nonweightbearing ankle anteroposterior view, significantly improved after surgery. Complications occurred in only one patient who experienced knot irritation with infection. Conclusion: The short-term surgical results of syndesmosis fixation using TightRope$^{TM}$ were good to excellent, both clinically and radiographically. These results suggest that the fixation using TightRope$^{TM}$ is a valid option for acute syndesmosis injury.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.145-150
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• 2018

High ankle sprain (distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury) occurs from rotational injuries, specifically external rotation, and may be associated with ankle fractures. The prevalence of these injuries may be higher than previously reported because they may be missed in an initial examination. Syndesmosis injury can lead to significant complications in injured ankle joints, so a precise physical examination and radiological evaluation is necessary. The most important treatment goal is to have the tibia and fibula located in the correct position with respect to each other and to heal in that position. The methods to fix these injuries is controversial.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2011

Ankle injuries may involve the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and can be associated with a variable degree of trauma to the soft tissue and osseous structures that play an important role in ankle joint stability. Ankle syndesmotic injury may occur solely as a soft tissue injury or in association with variable ankle fractures. Ankle syndesmotic injury does not necessarily lead to ankle instability; however, the coexistence of deltoid ligament injury critically destabilizes the ankle joint. The prevalence of these injuries may be higher than previously reported. The diagnosis of syndesmotic injury as not always easy because isolated ankle sprains may be missed in the absence of a frank diastasis and syndesmotic instability may be unnoticed in the presence of bimalleolar ankle fractures. Controversies arise at almost every phase of treatment includings : type of fixation(screw size, type of implant), number of cortices required for fixation and of need for hardware removal. Regardless of controversies, the most important goal should be restore and maintain the normal tibiofibular relationship to allow for healing of the ligamentous structures of the syndesmosis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.94-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Fatigue breakage of cortical screws sometimes occurs after syndesmosis fixation, regardless of the period of screw retention. This study compared the fatigue strength of a novel screw design to conventional cortical screws in the fixed state of syndesmosis. Materials and Methods: Twelve sawbone models were tested mechanically to determine the fatigue strength of three screw designs. The first group was composed of cortical screws, while the second and third groups were newly-designed screws. The second group was composed of screws with a 2.4-mm diameter thread-free portion of the mid-shank while the third group had a 2.0-mm diameter thread-free mid-shank. A 400 N load was applied repetitively to a fibula model and the number of cycles until screw failure was recorded. Four screws from each group were tested, giving a total of 12 fatigue tests. Results: The average cycles until screw failure for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 8,134, 63,186, and 2,581, respectively. The second group showed the highest fatigue strength (p=0.018). The other two screw designs showed similar fatigue strength (p=0.401). Conclusion: New screw designs with a thread-free portion in the mid-shank could reduce the occurrence of fatigue breakage after syndesmosis fixation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.128-134
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• 2017

Purpose: To introduce reliable and newly developed radiographic measures based on a lateral ankle radiograph to assess a syndesmotic reduction after screw fixation and to compare with the radiographic measures based on the anteroposterior (AP) and mortise radiographs. Materials and Methods: The postoperative ankle radiographs of 34 ankle fracture cases after screw fixation for concurrent syndesmosis injury were reviewed. Two radiographic parameters were measured on each AP and mortise radiograph; tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) and tibiofibular overlap (TFO). Five radiographic parameters were measured on the true lateral radiographs; the anteroposterior tibiofibular (APTF) ratio, anterior tibiofibular ratio (ATFR), posterior tibiofibular ratio (PTFR), distances of intersection of the anterior fibular border and the tibial plafond to anterior cortex of the tibia (AA'), and the intersection of posterior fibular border and tibial plafond to the tip of the posterior malleolus (BB'). In addition, the distance (XP) between the fibular posterior margin (X) crossing tibial plafond or the posterior malleolus and posterior articular margin (P) of the tibial plafond was measured on the lateral view. Results: Using TFCS and TFO in the AP and mortise radiographs, malreductions of syndesmosis were estimated in 17 of 34 cases (50.0%). Using the introduced and developed radiographic measures in the lateral radiographs, syndesmotic malreductions were estimated in 16 out of 34 cases (47.1%). Seventeen cases (50.0%) showed no evidence of postoperative diastasis using the radiographic criteria on the AP and mortise view, 10 cases (58.8%) of whom showed evidence of a malreduction on the lateral radiograph. The newly developed measurements, XP, were measured 0 in 11 out of 34 cases (32.4%). Conclusion: The reduction of syndemosis after screw fixation can be accurately assessed intraoperatively with a combination of several reliable radiographic measurements of the lateral radiograph and traditional radiographic measurements of the AP and mortise radiograph.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2002

Purpose: The purposes of the present study were to find the ideal insertion position syndesmosis screw and relation to the surrounding anatomical structures when indirectly inserting the screw anteriorly at a 30 angle at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle join t. Materials and Methods: We performed computed tomography from the axial view in 20 normal individuals at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle joint and divided the lateral side of the fibula into 4 sections. We drew a line from the middle of each of these 4 sections to the posterolateral tibia at a 30 angle and determined the relationship between each of these lines and the surrounding anatomical structures and confirmed the site at which each of these 4 lines passed through the posterolateral tibia which divided into 3 sections and the site of the fibula at which each of these lines passed through the middle 1/3 portion of the tibia. Results: The posterior 3/4 portion of the fibula that passed through the middle 1/3 portion of the posterolateral tibia in 18 cases. The portion did not approach the surrounding anatomical structures(Peroneal vessels and the muscular portion of FHL). Conclusion: The ideal insertion position of syndesmosis screw at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle joint at a 30 angle is the posterior 3/4 portion of the lateral side of the fibula, and injury to the surrounding anatomical structures could be avoided when the screw passes through the middle 1/3 portion of the posterolateral tibia.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.161-165
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• 2018

Purpose: A distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury with an ankle fracture is usually fixed with syndesmotic screws. Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ has been used as an alternative procedure because of the fewer reported complications. Therefore, this study compared the two surgeries. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients, who underwent syndesmotic screw fixation, and 34 patients, who underwent Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ fixation for distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury from February 2014 to February 2016, were analyzed retrospectively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, range of motion of ankle at 1 year after surgery, tibiofibular clear space, and tibiofibular interval at preoperative, postoperative and 1 year after surgery were investigated. Results: The VAS score, AOFAS score and radiographs were similar in the two groups. Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ showed better results in complications and plantarflexion. Conclusion: Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ fixation is a useful treatment that does not show a difference in fixation strength and clinical outcome. Knotless Tightrope$^{(R)}$ fixation also has an advantage in the range of motion and complications.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2013

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the effect of fixation tightness of the syndesmotic screw and its indwelling period on the recurrence of the syndesmosis widening after screw removal and the clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Forty consecutive patients with acute syndesmotic injury were retrospectively reviewed. The tibiofibular clear space is measured by digitalized measurement tool on serial radiographs. We analyzed the effect of time from trauma to fixation, syndesmotic screw indwelling duration, and fixation methods. Residual symptoms at the last follow up were evaluated. The student t-test, correlation test, and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Eighteen ankles (45%) had recurrent syndesmosis widening (greater than 5% compared to the contralateral side). Seven patients had pain and five had limitation of motion in the ankle joint. Fixation tightness had significant effect on reducing the recurrence while the severity of the initial widening, time to fixation, and duration of fixation did not affect the outcome. Conclusion: Tight fixation of syndesmotic screw is essential for achieving final syndesmotic stability and reducing recurrence.