Assessment of Ability of 3D Fluorscopy in Aiding Accurate Syndesmotic Reduction Following Traumatic Ankle Injury

Does Intraoperative 3D Fluoroscopy Accurately Assess Syndesmotic Reduction Following Traumatic Ankle Injury?

The purpose of this study is to determine if use of new imaging technology termed "3D fluoroscopy" will lead the surgeon to change the position of the fractured bones to a more accurate position.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Skeletally mature
• Patients with unilateral, acute, displaced ankle fractures with preoperative evidence of syndesmotic disruption or intraoperative evidence of syndesmotic instability following malleolar fixation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients skeletally immature;
• Patients less than age 18 years and more than age 75;
• Patients with previous ankle trauma to either ankle;
• Patients with bilateral ankle injuries;
• Patients with previous osseous injuries to the tibia or fibula; and
• Patients with isolated syndesmotic injury and no fracture (i.e. high ankle sprains)