Abstract
Obesity is an epidemic in the United States and is associated with an increased risk
of musculoskeletal problems. Rotational injuries of the ankle with a Weber C fibula
fracture have a greater risk of syndesmosis disruption and instability. The goal of
the present study was to explore the association between obesity and ankle fractures.
Using a retrospective review, the radiographs of 280 patients with an ankle fracture
were reviewed and classified using the Weber classification, which was then associated
with the body mass index, gender, age, diabetes, tobacco use, and osteoporosis. Patients
with a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or greater (odds ratio 1.78), men (odds ratio 1.74), and age 25 years or younger
(odds ratio 3.97) had greater odds of having a Weber C ankle fracture (compared with
Weber A and B) and Weber C and B (compared with Weber A). Diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis/osteopenia,
and current tobacco use were not significantly associated with the severity of the
ankle fracture. The results from the present study suggest that obesity presents a
greater risk of sustaining a more proximal distal fibula fracture.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 16, 2012
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
