Gait analysis for quality control after surgical treatment of ankle fractures

Forty-nine patients (mean age, 54 years) admitted for displaced ankle fract ures were observed retrospectively to determine by clinical examination and measurement of plantar pressure distribution whether successful surgical t reatment of ankle fractures had led to gait symmetry. The mean followup was 36 months (range, 19-54 months). The deviation in gait was quantified usin g peak pressure. Using a clinical score, most of the patients had satisfact ory results. The plantar pressure distribution showed significant load asym metries of patients with satisfactory results and those with non-satisfacto ry results. Dynamic gait analysis allows quantification of gait asymmetry a nd clinically non-visible gait disorder.