The ANK device: A new approach in the treatment of the fractures of the lateral malleolus associated with the rupture of the syndesmosis

The ANK device was developed for the treatment of fractures of the lateral malleolus occurring with rupture of the syndesmosis, While it provides the anatomic reduction of the fracture and the syndesmosis, it allows the physi ologic movements of the fibula, It is not used for comminuted fractures of the lateral malleolus and in cases where fibular medullary canal is narrow. We included forty-nine patients who had the ANK device applied and at least 2 years follow-up. The mean follow-up was 41 months (range 24-124), The fr actures were evaluated according to the Lauge-Hansen classification; 25 cas es were evaluated as supination-external rotation, 11 cases were pronation- abduction, and 13 cases were pronation-external rotation type fractures, Th ere were also 46 fractures of the medial malleolus and three ruptures of th e deltoid ligament, Twenty-nine (59,2%) patients were evaluated as excellen t, 12 (24,5%) as good, 5 (10.2%) as fair and 3 (6.1%) as poor, Arthrosis wa s observed in 3 (6.1%) of the patients.