Abstract
Fibular fractures in the setting of an unstable ankle joint require surgical fixation;
however, several factors contradict open surgical correction. Severe soft tissue compromise
can delay adequate fracture reduction and preclude the standard incisional approach.
The soft tissue envelope in the setting of obesity, diabetes, and/or peripheral vascular
disease further complicates definitive treatment. Poorly timed open fixation can lead
to delayed healing of the incision site, with wound breakdown and the potential for
hardware failure. Proximal fibular fractures are also at unique risk of neurovascular
compromise with open reduction and internal fixation. Surgical fixation has now focused
on minimizing the soft tissue insult using percutaneous techniques in the comorbid
patient. We present a case that highlights a minimally invasive technique that provides
dynamic stable internal fixation of fibular fractures with the use of flexible pediatric
intramedullary nails, typically used in long bone fractures of children.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 13, 2018
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None.
Conflict of Interest: None.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved.
