TREATMENT OF LATERAL MALLEOLAR FRACTURE T YPE-B WITH KIRSCHNER WIRES,CERCLAGES AND HEMICERCLAGES

In this retrospective study 52 cases of malleolar fractures type B, th at were treated with Kirschner wires, cerclages and hemicerclages, bet ween 1981 and 1991 at the Mannedorf Hospital, were compiled and comple ted with the corresponding synopsis. The results show that the osteosy nthesis technique, in certain cases, is absolutely justifiable and rep resents a reliable alternative to tensile screw osteosynthesis. This p rocedure of osteosynthesis is a good method in comminuted fractures as well as osteoporotic bone, in which the screws grip badly. A minimum of osteosynthesis material is implanted in precarious soft tissue cond itions. As in the tensile screw osteosynthesis, the removal of the mat erial can be done ambulatory under local anaesthetic with stab incisio n. The functional after-treatment is not recommended. We suggested a p ostoperative plaster of Paris treatment for 6 weeks (2 weeks without a nd 4 weeks with strain). As the postoperative course shows comparable results, osteosynthesis of the lateral malleolar fracture type B with Kirschner wires, cerclages and hemicerclages represents a good variati on to plate osteosynthesis and tensile screw osteosynthesis.