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Fully threaded headless compression screw versus partially threaded cancellous lag screw in medial malleolus fractures: clinical and radiological outcomes

European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery volume 47, pages 179–185 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of medial malleolar fractures, which were treated with fully threaded headless compression screws and to compare the clinical and radiological results of this screws and partially threaded cancellous lag screws.

Methods

Sixty-one patients who attended the final follow-up examination were included in the study. Group 1 comprised 29 patients applied with fully threaded headless compression screws and Group 2 comprised 32 patients with partially threaded cancellous lag screws. Radiological evaluation was made with standard radiographs. The clinical evaluations were applied using the AOFAS ankle hindfoot scale. Pain or sensitivity by touching over the medial malleolus was recorded and scored according to Visual Analog Scale.

Results

No significant differences were determined between the groups with respect to age, gender, fracture type, follow-up time, bone union time and AOFAS scores. The medial sensitivity associated with implant irritation was significantly lower in Group 1. There was no need for removal of the fixation material in any patient of Group 1.

Conclusions

The results of this study showed satisfactory results in the two fixation techniques in medial malleolar fractures. However, the rates of medial sensitivity associated with implant irritation were lower in the group where fully threaded headless compression screws were used. Therefore, to prevent postoperative patient dissatisfaction caused by persistent medial sensitivity associated with implant irritation, despite successful surgical treatment, the primary choice may be fully threaded headless compression screws.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Basin Sitesi, 35360, Izmir, Turkey

    Tugrul Bulut & Hakan Ertem

  2. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Democracy University, Izmir, Turkey

    Merve Gursoy

Authors
  1. Tugrul Bulut
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  2. Merve Gursoy
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  3. Hakan Ertem
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Correspondence to Tugrul Bulut.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Since the study was retrospective, informed consent by patients and providers was not required.

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Cite this article

Bulut, T., Gursoy, M. & Ertem, H. Fully threaded headless compression screw versus partially threaded cancellous lag screw in medial malleolus fractures: clinical and radiological outcomes. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 47, 179–185 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-019-01207-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-019-01207-0

Keywords

  • Medial malleolar fracture
  • Ankle fracture
  • Headless compression screw
  • Cancellous lag screw