Extra-articular distal tibia fibula fracture managed with single posterolateral approach: a case report

Neetin P. Mahajan; Prasanna Kumar G. S.; Tushar C. Patil; Kartik P. Pande; Harish Pawar

doi:10.18203/issn.2455-4510.IntJResOrthop20211632

Authors

Neetin P. Mahajan Department of Orthopaedics, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Prasanna Kumar G. S. Department of Orthopaedics, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Tushar C. Patil Department of Orthopaedics, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Kartik P. Pande Department of Orthopaedics, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Harish Pawar Department of Orthopaedics, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4510.IntJResOrthop20211632

Keywords:

Distal tibia fracture, Extra-articular, Posterolateral approach, Plating

Abstract

Extra-articular distal tibia fractures involve distal tibia approximately 4 cm within tibia plafond with no articular extension. The proper preoperative care, planning and selection of surgical approach is very essential to prevent postoperative wound-related complications. We present a case of a 29 year female patient, presented with left ankle pain and swelling with a wound over the medial aspect of the ankle. X-ray of the left ankle showed extra-articular distal tibia fibula fracture with no neurovascular deficit. We managed both the fractures with open reduction and internal fixation using a single posterolateral approach. At present 1 year follow-up, the patient is having a good range of ankle motion with radiological union with no implant failure and wound-related complications. Extra-articular distal tibia fibula fracture fixation using single posterolateral approach is a viable alternative approach to medial or anterolateral approach in cases of medial or anterior soft tissue problems. It helps in getting a better functional outcome, early mobilisation with less wound-related complications.

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