The incidence of ankle fractures in older patients shows a clear upward trend. However, their proper treatment is often challenging and may be associated with a high complication rate. The primary reasons for the increased complication rate can be attributed to the specific characteristics of the patient population, such as frequently complex morbidities, weakened bone structure, and less than optimal soft tissue conditions. These problems are more likely to arise with standard invasive operative methods, such as plate osteosynthesis, which can have a pronounced negative impact on the already sensitive soft tissues. To reduce complications associated with the treatment of multiple, complex ankle fractures in geriatric patients, a soft tissue-protecting alternative may be the intramedullary nailing of the distal fibula. In this case presentation, we aim to demonstrate the advantages of the anatomical intramedullary fibula nailing method using the examples of complex ankle fracture therapy in an 86-year-old and a 74-year-old patient. This technique offers anatomical fixation while ensuring significant soft tissue protection. It allows for (partial) weight-bearing after surgery, thereby facilitating the early mobilization of patients. With appropriate indications, this method can yield particularly good results in the operative treatment of ankle fractures in geriatric patients. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(10): 392–397.
Az idősödő pácienseknél előforduló bokatörések egyértelmű emelkedő tendenciát mutatnak. Megfelelő terápiájuk azonban gyakran kihívást jelent, mely akár nagy komplikációs rátával társulhat. A fokozott szövődményráta fő okaként a betegpopuláció sajátosságai nevezhetők meg, úgymint a gyakran összetett alapbetegségek, a gyengült csontozat, illetve a korántsem optimális lágyrész-viszonyok. A problémák pedig gyakrabban jelentkezhetnek az amúgy is érzékeny lágy részekre kifejezett negatív hatással lévő standard, invazív operatív módszerek, mint a lemezes osteosynthesis mellett. A geriátriai páciensek többes, összetett bokatöréseinek kezelésével összefüggő komplikációk csökkentésére a lágy részeket kímélő kezelési alternatíva lehet a distalis fibula velőűrszegezése. Jelen esetbemutatásunk során egy 86 éves és egy 74 éves páciens komplex ficamos bokatörésének terápiája példáján szándékozunk bemutatni az anatómiai fibula-velőűrszegezési módszer előnyeit. A bemutatott módszer kifejezett lágyrész-kímélet mellett biztosít anatómiai rögzítést, mely a műtétet követően akár (rész)terhelhető, így elősegíti a páciensek korai mobilizációját is. Az eljárás megfelelő indikációt követően kifejezetten jó eredményekkel alkalmazható alternatíva lehet a geriátriai páciensek bokatöréseinek operatív terápiája során. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(10): 392–397.
Kannus P, Palvanen M, Niemi S, et al. Stabilizing incidence of low-trauma ankle fractures in elderly people Finnish statistics in 1970–2006 and prediction for the future. Bone 2008; 43: 340–342.
Bariteau JT, Hsu RY, Mor V, et al. Operative versus nonoperative treatment of geriatric ankle fractures: a Medicare Part A claims database analysis. Foot Ankle Int. 2015; 36: 648–655.
Ziegler P, Bahrs C, Konrads C, et al. Ankle fractures of the geriatric patient: a narrative review. EFORT Open Rev. 2023; 8: 1–10.
Burkus M, Bruch A, Bergmann EM, et al. Excellent functional outcomes after operative treatment of multifragmentary, dislocated proximal humeral fractures in patients over 65 years of age. [Jelentős funkcionális eredmények a 65 év feletti páciensek többrészes, elmozdult proximalis humerustöréseinek osteosynthesisét követően.] Orv Hetil. 2024; 165: 775–784. [Hungarian]
Lee KM, Chung CY, Kwon SS, et al. Ankle fractures have features of an osteoporotic fracture. Osteoporos Int. 2013; 24: 2819–2825.
Greenfield DM, Eastell R. Risk factors for ankle fracture. Osteoporos Int. 2001; 12: 97–103.
Raschke MJ, Ochman S, Milstrey A. Ankle fractures in the elderly: do we have new concepts? EFORT Open Rev. 2023; 8: 223–230.
Makwana NK, Bhowal B, Harper WM, et al. Conservative versus operative treatment for displaced ankle fractures in patients over 55 years of age. A prospective, randomised study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2001; 83: 525–529.
Zaghloul A, Haddad B, Barksfield R, et al. Early complications of surgery in operative treatment of ankle fractures in those over 60: a review of 186 cases. Injury 2014; 45: 780–783.
Lynde MJ, Sautter T, Hamilton GA, et al. Complications after open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures in the elderly. Foot Ankle Surg. 2012; 18: 103–107.
Srinivasan CM, Moran CG. Internal fixation of ankle fractures in the very elderly. Injury 2001; 32: 559–563.
Hsu RY, Lee Y, Hayda R, et al. Morbidity and mortality associated with geriatric ankle fractures. A Medicare Part A Claims Database Analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015; 97: 1748–1755.
SooHoo NF, Krenek L, Eagan MJ, et al. Complication rates following open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009; 91: 1042–1049.
Riedel MD, Parker A, Zheng M, et al. Correlation of soft tissue swelling and timing to surgery with acute wound complications for operatively treated ankle and other lower extremity fractures. Foot Ankle Int. 2019; 40: 526–536.
Zahn RK, Frey S, Jakubietz RG, et al. A contoured locking plate for distal fibular fractures in osteoporotic bone: a biomechanical cadaver study. Injury 2012; 43: 718–725.
Aigner R, Lechler P, Boese CK, et al. Operative treatment of geriatric ankle fractures with conventional or locking plates. A retrospective case-control study. Foot Ankle Surg. 2019; 25: 766–770.
Cho BK, Kim JB, Choi SM. Efficacy of hook-type locking plate and partially threaded cancellous lag screw in the treatment of displaced medial malleolar fractures in elderly patients. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022; 142: 2585–2596.
King CM, Cobb M, Collman DR, et al. Bicortical fixation of medial malleolar fractures: a review of 23 cases at risk for complicated bone healing. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2012; 51: 39–44.
Hsu RY, Ramirez JM, Blankenhorn BD. Surgical considerations for osteoporosis in ankle fracture fixation. Orthop Clin North Am. 2019; 50: 245–258.
Andruszkow H, Pfeifer R, Horst K, et al. External fixation in the elderly. Injury 2015; 46(Suppl 3): S7–S12.
Srinath A, Matuszewski PE, Kalbac T. Geriatric ankle fracture: robust fixation versus hindfoot nail. J Orthop Trauma 2021; 35(Suppl 5): S41–S44.
Luong K, Huchital MJ, Saleh AM, et al. Management of distal fibular fractures with minimally invasive technique: a systematic review. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2021; 60: 114–120.
Asloum Y, Bedin B, Roger T, et al. Internal fixation of the fibula in ankle fractures: a prospective, randomized and comparative study: plating versus nailing. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2014; 100(Suppl 4): S255–S259.
White TO, Bugler KE, Appleton P, et al. A prospective randomised controlled trial of the fibular nail versus standard open reduction and internal fixation for fixation of ankle fractures in elderly patients. Bone Joint J. 2016; 98-B(9): 1248–1252.
Tas DB, Smeeing DPJ, Emmink BL, et al. Intramedullary fixation versus plate fixation of distal fibular fractures. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019; 58: 119–126.
Jain S, Haughton BA, Brew C. Intramedullary fixation of distal fibular fractures: a systematic review of clinical and functional outcomes. J Orthop Traumatol. 2014; 15: 245–254.
Carter TH, Wallace R, Mackenzie SA, et al. The fibular intramedullary nail versus locking plate and lag screw fixation in the management of unstable elderly ankle fractures. A cadaveric biomechanical comparison. J Orthop Trauma 2020; 34: e401–e406.
Swart E, Bezhani H, Greisberg J, et al. How long should patients be kept non-weight bearing after ankle fracture fixation? A survey of OTA and AOFAS members. Injury 2015; 46: 1127–1130.
Schepers T. To retain or remove the syndesmotic screw: a review of literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2011; 131: 879–883.
Bakó Gy. The situation of geriatric medicine in Hungary today. [A geriátria helyzete ma Magyarországon.] Orv Hetil. 2023; 164: 891–893. [Hungarian]