Journal List > J Korean Foot Ankle Soc > v.21(2) > 1043447

Lee, Bak, and Jang: A Irreducible Ankle Fracture and Dislocation Due to Injured Tibialis Posterior Tendon Interposition: A Case Report

Abstract

Fractures and fracture-dislocations of the ankle are caused by a variety of mechanisms. In addition to fractures, injuries of soft tissue, such as ligaments, tendons, nerves, and muscles may also occur. Among these, a tibialis posterior tendon injury is difficult to be identified due to swelling and pain at the fracture site. It is difficult to observe tibialis posterior tendon injury on a simple radiograph; it is usually found during surgery by accident. There are some studies regarding irreducible ankle fracture-dislocations due to interposition of the tibialis posterior tendon; however, to the best of our knowledge, there has not been any report about interposition of injured tibialis posterior tendon. Herein, we report a case of an irreducible fracture-dislocation of the ankle due to injured tibialis posterior tendon interposition that was observed intraoperatively, interrupting the reduction of ankle fracture-dislocation. We obtained satisfactory clinical result after reduction of the trapped tendon, fracture reduction, and internal fixation; therefore, we are willing to report this case with the consent of the patient. This study was conducted with an approval from the local Institutional Ethics Review Board.

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Figure 1.
Preoperative radiographs showed AO-OTA (Arbeitsgemein-schaft für osteosynthesefragen-Orthopedic Trauma Association) type 44-B2, ankle fracture. Lateral subluxation of talus and widening of syndemosis were observed. (A) Mortise view. (B) Lateral view.
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Figure 2.
Irreducible ankle fracture and dislocation after manual reduction. (A) Mortise view. (B) Lateral view.
jkfas-21-70f2.tif
Figure 3.
Intraoperative fluoroscopic image showed that the reduction was satisfactory and ankle joint congruency was well maintained.
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Figure 4.
Intraoperative fluoroscopic image showed that the reduction of medial malleolar fracture was not satisfactory and ankle mortise was not maintained.
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Figure 6.
Three-dimensional reconstruction images of operative findings. Tibialis posterior tendon (arrows) was passing by posterior surface of talus between the distal tibia and fibula and from lateral to medial.
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Figure 5.
Ankle joint findings during operation. (A) Tibialis posterior tendon was found at intra-articular space of ankle. (B) Anatomical reduction was inhibited by interposition of tibialis posterior tendon. (C) Partially ruptured tibialis posterior tendon was observed.
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Figure 7.
Postoperative radiographs after operation showed well, satisfactory reduction. (A) Mortise view. (B) Lateral view.
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Figure 8.
Postoperative radiographs after removal of syndesmosis screw. (A) Mortise view. (B) Lateral view.
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Figure 9.
The simple radiograph showed the complete bone union. (A) Mortise view. (B) Lateral view.
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Figure 10.
Postoperative radiographs after removal of implant. (A) Mortise view. (B) Lateral view.
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Figure 11.
The magnetic resonance imaging showed the interposition of tibialis posterior tendon in ankle joint (arrows). (A) Axial view. (B) Coronal view.
jkfas-21-70f11.tif
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