• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2001

Purpose: To evaluate the radiographic results of the treatment for Danis-Weber type B lateral malleolar fracture with 2 cannulated screws. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four cases of Danis-Weber type B lateral malleolar fracture were available. Follow-up averaged 8 months (6-25 months). The medial clear space for lateral displacement of talus, talo-crural angle for lateral malleolar shortening, and malunion evidence of lateral malleolar fracture were observed. Results: Medial clear space was from 2mm to 4mm in 34 cases. Talo-crural angle was from $73^{\circ}$ to $82.5^{\circ}$ in 33 cases. One case was complicated with malunion of lateral malleolus. But, we found the same condition in the immediate post- operative radiographic film. Conclusion: We believe that the 2 cannulated screws fixation for Danis-Weber type B lateral malleolar simple fractures is an excellent treatment method.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2008

Purpose: Open fractures of the foot and ankle require prompt repair of the wound due to the complexity of anatomy, insufficiency of soft tissues and inadequate blood supply. Early flaps and skin grafts are used for this purpose yet general condition of the patient as well as local wound environment often precludes such treatment options. Vacuum- Assisted Closure (VAC) is recently being used in such cases. This study was done to validate the use of VAC together with silver antimicrobial dressing materials in contaminated open fracture wounds. Materials and Methods: We have selected 10 patients with Gustillo-Anderson type III open fractures of the foot & ankle treated with VAC and silver antimicrobial dressing materials from March 2007 to January 2008. The relationship between duration of treatment with wound size, contamination, and degree of soft tissue damage was analyzed. Results: The average age of patients was 36.6 years. The average amount of VAC application time was 23.4 days. Silver dressing materials were used for 16.8 days. Average wound healing time was 51.9 days. Statistically significant relationship was found between wound size, VAC application time and silver dressing material application time. No complications such as osteomyelitis were found after treatment. Conclusion: VAC technique is recently being used in open fractures with wide skin and soft tissue defects, producing good results. A wide array of dressing materials such as silver dressing is in development. We have incorporated the VAC technique together with silver dressing materials in the treatment of open fractures and achieved complication free results.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the advantages of the antiglide plate fixation procedure for Danis-Weber type B lateral malleolar fractures of ankle compared to other methods of lateral plate fixation. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 70 cases that antiglide plate fixation and lateral plate fixation procedures were performed from Mar. 2001 through Mar. 2006. Of the total 70 cases, they were divided into two groups ; 22 cases were treated with the antiglide plate procedure (Group I) and 48 cases were treated with the lateral plate procedure (Group II). The results of the two groups were analyzed both radiographically and clinically using Ankle-Hindfoot scale of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). Results: All fractures were healed at average of 8 weeks both radiographically and clinically. According to the Ankle-Hindfoot scale, all cases of Group I and 48 cases of Group II were above 80 points. 2 cases (9%) in Group I complained of peroneal tendinitis, while 19 cases (39%) in Group II showed skin irritation resulting from the screw or the plate. A total of 6 cases (27%) in Group I and 27 cases (55%) in Group II complained cosmetic problems. Conclusion: we concluded that the antiglide plate fixation for Danis-Weber type B lateral malleolar fractures is one of the good methods. But, further analysis will be need to find a solution for the peroneal tendinitis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assess the efficacy of a bioabsorbable polylactide (PLA) plate and screw for treating injuries of ankle fractures. Materials and Methods: 24 patients who underwent an open reduction and internal fixation operation for ankle fractures from July 2005 to March 2007 were enrolled into the study. There were 15 men and 9 women. The average age of the patients was 44 years and the average follow-up period was 16 years and two months (16.2 months). All cases were divided into low grade fracture patient (11) who belongs in type A and B of Danis-Weber classification and high grade fracture patient (13) who belongs in type C1, C2 of Danis-Weber classification, and each groups were analyzed by clinical (Meyer score) and radiological finding at the time of their last follow-up evaluation. Results: The clinical results according to Meyer scoring system, showed that all patient with low grade fracture had good to excellent result, but only 54% of patient with high grade fracture had good to excellent result. According to Cedell's radiologic finding, there were 91% cases above fair in low grade fracture. But there were 62% of patient above fair result in high grade fracture, the reduction losses were seen in 38% of patient with high grade fracture. Conclusion: Bioabsorbable PLA plate and screw is good internal fixation device which doesn't have additional operation for removal of implant because of slow absorption within the human body. It showed sufficient strength for acquisition and maintenance of reduction in low grade fracture, but need attention to use because of many cases of reduction loss in high grade fracture. So, it seems to be safe and effective when used in heeling of low grade fracture under considering about type of fracture sufficiently.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2020

Purpose: Leg elevation is known as an effective method for reducing leg swelling, and it has been routinely used in medical practice. However, the effect of swelling reduction in relation to the degree of elevation height is not known. This study evaluated the swelling of the leg after acute ankle fracture operations at two different elevation heights and the elevated leg heights were compared. Materials and Methods: A total of 66 patients with postoperative acute ankle fractures were classified into two groups depending on the presence of different leg elevation heights: high-elevated (HE, case) and low-elevated groups (LE, control). We checked leg swelling, pain, subjective satisfaction for the elevation device, and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and we retrospectively compared them between both the groups. Results: Leg swelling and pain were reduced in both groups. However, they did not show any significant differences between both the groups (p>0.05). Nineteen patients in the HE group replied with uncomfortable, while no patients in LE group did so. The AOFAS score at 1 year postoperatively did not show any significant differences between both the groups (p=0.46). Conclusion: High elevation of the leg after ankle fractures did not show a significant difference from low elevation in regard to leg swelling, pain, and function. Furthermore, high leg elevation resulted in discomfort during the postoperative period. Thus, low elevation with a pillow is enough for acute ankle fracture patients with little discomfort and satisfactory swelling reduction.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2003

Purpose: The treatment of calcaneal fractures remains a controversy in orthopaedic field because of its complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of calcaneal fractures and its complications. Materials and Methods: Clinical and radiological results were retrospectively analyzed in 28 patients, 34 cases with fractures of calcaneus which were treated in our department from September 1998 to march 2003. Results: According to the Creighton-Nebraska Foundation Assessment score, there were 3 excellent, 11 good, and 12 fair 6 poor results. Bohler angle was corrected from $8.3^{\circ}$ to $18.3^{\circ}$, Gissane angle was corrected from $121^{\circ}$ to $135^{\circ}$, and calcaneal width was corrected from 46.8mm to 37mm. Conclusion: Open reduction and internal fixation for joint depression type calcaneal fractures thought to be a good method of treatment. Closed reduction and percutaneous axial pinning should be chosed in selected cases of tongue type fractures. In treatment of complicated calcaneal fractures as malunion, subtalar distraction arthrodesis and lateral wall exostectomy will reduce disability of the disease.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2001

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical prognostic factors which may affect the postoperative clinical results of the unstable ankle fractures. Materials and Methods: This study is based on 62 unstable ankle fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation from May 1994 to June 2000, with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months(range: 13 months-7 years 3 months). The 62 patients were average 39.1 years old with male: female ratio of 41:21. Based on Lauge-Hansen classification, the supination-external rotation type was the most common with 36 (58.1%) cases. The clinical results was assessed by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) functional scale. The sex, age, body weight, trauma-operation interval, operation time, cause of injury, fracture type were statistically analyzed as the possible postoperative clinical prognostic factors. Results: Postoperative AOFAS functional scale was average 82.1 points with 22(35.5 %) cases excellent, 12(19.4%) good. 16(25.8%) fair and 12(19.4%) cases poor results. The age and the operation time were found to be statistically significant factors affecting the prognosis(p<0.001). The sex, weight, trauma-operation interval factors did not significantly affect the clinical results. The pronation-external rotation type showed better clinical tendency among the fracture types, but without the statistical significance. Conclusion: The surgically treated unstable ankle fractures in patients whose age was above 41 years old or operation time exceeding 90 minutes showed significantly poor clinical results.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 2017

Fractures and fracture-dislocations of the ankle are caused by a variety of mechanisms. In addition to fractures, injuries of soft tissue, such as ligaments, tendons, nerves, and muscles may also occur. Among these, a tibialis posterior tendon injury is difficult to be identified due to swelling and pain at the fracture site. It is difficult to observe tibialis posterior tendon injury on a simple radiograph; it is usually found during surgery by accident. There are some studies regarding irreducible ankle fracture-dislocations due to interposition of the tibialis posterior tendon; however, to the best of our knowledge, there has not been any report about interposition of injured tibialis posterior tendon. Herein, we report a case of an irreducible fracture-dislocation of the ankle due to injured tibialis posterior tendon interposition that was observed intraoperatively, interrupting the reduction of ankle fracture-dislocation. We obtained satisfactory clinical result after reduction of the trapped tendon, fracture reduction, and internal fixation; therefore, we are willing to report this case with the consent of the patient. This study was conducted with an approval from the local Institutional Ethics Review Board.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.156-160
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• 2015

Purpose: We compared plain radiographs with computed tomography (CT) images to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative CT in acute ankle malleolar fracture in terms of accuracy of diagnosis and planning of operative strategy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 210 cases of malleolar fracture treated at our institute for which plain radiograph and CT were obtained preoperatively. Observers had reviewed plain radiographs and recorded fracture classification, anatomical diagnosis, extent and configuration of fractures and then subsequently reviewed CT images. Records from each image were compared and information regarding the differences in fractures was assessed. Results: Fractures were notably changed in appearance in 88 cases (41.9%) and diagnosis changed in 30 cases (14.3%). According to the change of diagnosis and fracture appearances, the operative strategy was changed in 15 cases (7.1%) including incision, order of reduction, and target of fixation. Conclusion: CT could be a useful adjunctive imaging tool in addition to the plain radiograph in planning of operative treatment for acute malleolar fracture in terms of estimating exact configuration, extent of fractures and even newly revealed hidden fractures.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.86-90
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• 2015

Purpose: We analyzed and compared the clinical and radiologic results between minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and internal fixation using intramedullary (IM) nail in the treatment of distal tibia fractures. Materials and Methods: From March 2005 to June 2013, 65 cases of distal tibia fractures treated with either plate fixation or IM nail fixation were analyzed retrospectively by clinical and radiologic evaluations. The clinical results were compared using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Olerud-Molander ankle score (OMAS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) score at the last follow-up. The radiologic results were compared by time to bone union, complications such as nonunion, delayed union, and malunion. Results: The clinical results (according to OMAS, AOFAS score, and VAS score) were 77.47, 84.76, and 1.75, respectively, in the plating group, and 90.21, 91.00, and 1.25, respectively, in the nailing group, and there was no statistically significant difference. Plating group showed earlier union than the nailing group and the nailing group showed higher frequency of non-union and delayed union than plating group. Conclusion: In treatment of distal tibia fractures, two methods showed appropriate results. Therefore, thorough investigation of the types of fracture, state of soft tissues, and advantages and disadvantages of the two methods should be conducted in the treatment of distal tibia fractures.