• Mélissa Laflamme, Etienne L Belzile, Luc Bédard, Michel P J van den Bekerom, Mark Glazebrook, and Stéphane Pelet.
• *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHU de Québec, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL), Québec, Québec, Canada; †Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHU de Québec, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Québec, Québec, Canada; ‡Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHU de Québec, Hôpital Enfant-Jésus, Québec, Québec, Canada; §Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; ‖Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and ¶Centre de recherche FRSQ du CHAUQ de Québec, Hôpital Enfant-Jésus, Québec, Québec, Canada.
• J Orthop Trauma. 2015 May 1; 29 (5): 216-23.

ObjectivesTo compare the clinical and radiographic outcome after stabilization of an acute syndesmosis rupture with either a static implant (a 3.5-mm metallic screw through 4 cortices) or a dynamic device (TightRope; Arthrex).DesignMulticenter randomized double-blind controlled trial.SettingsStudy realized in 5 trauma centers (2 level 1 and 3 level 2) in 2 countries.Patients/ParticipantsSeventy subjects admitted for an acute ankle syndesmosis rupture entered the study and were randomized into 2 groups (dynamic fixation = 34 and static fixation = 36). The 2 groups were similar regarding demographic, social, and surgical data. Sixty-five patients (dynamic = 33 and static = 32) completed the study and were available for analysis.InterventionSyndesmosis fixation in the static group was realized with a 4 cortices 3.5-mm cortical screw (Synthes) and in the dynamic group with 1 TightRope (Arthrex). Standardized rehabilitation process for the 2 groups: no weight bearing in a cast for 6 weeks and then rehabilitation without protection.Main Outcome MeasurementOlerud-Molander score.ResultsSubjects with dynamic fixation achieved better clinical performances as described with the Olerud-Molander scores at 3 (68.8 vs. 60.2, P = 0.067), 6 (84.2 vs. 76.8, P = 0.082), and 12 months (93.3 vs. 87.6, P = 0.046). We also observed higher American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores at 3 months (78.6 vs. 70.6, P = 0.016), but these were not significant at 6 (87.1 vs. 83.8, P = 0.26) or 12 months (93.1 vs. 89.9, P = 0.26). Implant failure was higher in the screw group (36.1% vs. 0%, P < 0.05). Loss of reduction was observed in 4 cases in the static screw group (11.1% vs. 0%, P = 0.06).ConclusionsDynamic fixation of acute ankle syndesmosis rupture with a dynamic device seems to result in better clinical and radiographic outcomes. The implant offers adequate syndesmotic stabilization without failure or loss of reduction, and the reoperation rate is significantly lower than with conventional screw fixation.Level Of EvidenceTherapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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