REMOVAL OF INTERNAL-FIXATION - THE EFFECT ON PATIENTS COMPLAINTS - A STUDY OF 66 CASES OF REMOVAL OF INTERNAL-FIXATION AFTER MALLEOLAR FRACTURES

To estimate the effect of removal of internal fixation after treatment of malleolar fractures on postoperatively presented complaints, we re trospectively evaluated 66 patients by their records and by personal q uestionnaires. Of all the patients, 89.4% had one or more complaints. These were typically soreness over implant and cicatrix, reduced movem ent of the ankle joint, and strain-related pain. About 75% of these pa tients reported improvement after removal. The AO mode of fixation, i. e., typically by lateral semitubular plating and transsyndesmotic scre w and a medial screw or pins, and the Wiberg-Cedell mode, i.e., typica lly consisting of lateral single or double cerclage and staple and med ial pinning, constituted the principal groupings of the patients. The two groups were comparable. In this series, we found significantly mor e complaints associated with the AO mode in the postoperative period. We conclude that removal of internal fixation after malleolar fracture s is indicated when common types of complaints are presented.