THE ANKLE FRACTURE AS AN INDEX OF FUTURE FRACTURE RISK - A 25-40 YEARFOLLOW-UP OF 1063 CASES

In 1992 a retrospective case control study was performed, based on all patients with ankle fractures (n 1063) treated at the Department of O rthopedics in Malmo, Sweden, between 1950-1951 and 1961-1965. As all r adiographic examinations have been saved in Malmo, we were able to stu dy all subsequent fractures that this group had sustained. 260 patient s from 1961-1965 who were still living in Malmo today were also compar ed with an age- and gender-matched control group regarding the locatio n and type of subsequent fractures. The group with former ankle fractu res continued to have a two-fold increased incidence of all sorts of f ractures. The same result was found when looking at the upper and lowe r extremities separately. However, the risk of sustaining new fracture s in the once-fractured extremity was not increased compared to the un injured side.