A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution

Category: Trauma; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: There is an increasing trend of geriatric ankle fractures worldwide. The mortality rate of geriatric open ankle fractures is comparable to that of geriatric hip fractures. We aim to review the management and outcome of geriatric open ankle fractures at a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuet Peng Khor MB ChB, FRCS(Orth)(Edin), Manu Jacob Abraham MS Orthopaedics, Alynna Chua MBBS
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-12-01
Series:Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011424S00120
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846114835287244800
author Yuet Peng Khor MB ChB, FRCS(Orth)(Edin)
Manu Jacob Abraham MS Orthopaedics
Alynna Chua MBBS
author_facet Yuet Peng Khor MB ChB, FRCS(Orth)(Edin)
Manu Jacob Abraham MS Orthopaedics
Alynna Chua MBBS
author_sort Yuet Peng Khor MB ChB, FRCS(Orth)(Edin)
collection DOAJ
description Category: Trauma; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: There is an increasing trend of geriatric ankle fractures worldwide. The mortality rate of geriatric open ankle fractures is comparable to that of geriatric hip fractures. We aim to review the management and outcome of geriatric open ankle fractures at a single institution. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of all patients above 60 years of age who had surgery foropen ankle or distal tibia and fibula fracutres between years 2017-2021 was performed. Demographic data, ambulatory status, ASA grade, comorbidities, surgical management, length of stay, outcome and radiographic data were recorded into a data collection form. A descriptive analysis of their outcome was performed. Results: 12 of 99 patients had open ankle fractures. Mean age cohort was 69.5 years (61- 85 years). 7 were female (58%). 67% (n=8) had low energy falls. 83% were independent community ambulators (n=10). 33% had diabetes, 17% had peripheral vascular disease and 25% had renal disease. Average follow up was 8.6 months (2 weeks- 32 months). 42% were Gustillo- Anderson grade 1 injuries, 33% Grade 2, 8% and 25% Grade 3 injuries. Mean length of stay patients was 13.5 days compared to 10.8 days for closed fractures.Patients spent a mean 52.6 days (28-77days) at the step down facility. 1 year mortality rate was 8% . Malunion and post traumatic arthritis rate was 11% each. There were no cases of deep surgical site infection or amputation. Conclusion: Open geriatric ankle fractures account for 12% of geriatric ankle fractures at our institution. They required longer length of stay and spent a mean 52.6 days at a stepdown facilty. Mortality rate was 8%. 50% of patients were able to return to previous ambulatory status. If the trend for geriatric ankle fractures continue to rise, health care systems need to cater for eventual increase in need for longer hospital stay and step down care.
format Article
id doaj-art-c9386e8d8e694403868b2fc1660fda6f
institution Kabale University
issn 2473-0114
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
spelling doaj-art-c9386e8d8e694403868b2fc1660fda6f2024-12-20T08:04:14ZengSAGE PublishingFoot & Ankle Orthopaedics2473-01142024-12-01910.1177/2473011424S00120A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single InstitutionYuet Peng Khor MB ChB, FRCS(Orth)(Edin)Manu Jacob Abraham MS OrthopaedicsAlynna Chua MBBSCategory: Trauma; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: There is an increasing trend of geriatric ankle fractures worldwide. The mortality rate of geriatric open ankle fractures is comparable to that of geriatric hip fractures. We aim to review the management and outcome of geriatric open ankle fractures at a single institution. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of all patients above 60 years of age who had surgery foropen ankle or distal tibia and fibula fracutres between years 2017-2021 was performed. Demographic data, ambulatory status, ASA grade, comorbidities, surgical management, length of stay, outcome and radiographic data were recorded into a data collection form. A descriptive analysis of their outcome was performed. Results: 12 of 99 patients had open ankle fractures. Mean age cohort was 69.5 years (61- 85 years). 7 were female (58%). 67% (n=8) had low energy falls. 83% were independent community ambulators (n=10). 33% had diabetes, 17% had peripheral vascular disease and 25% had renal disease. Average follow up was 8.6 months (2 weeks- 32 months). 42% were Gustillo- Anderson grade 1 injuries, 33% Grade 2, 8% and 25% Grade 3 injuries. Mean length of stay patients was 13.5 days compared to 10.8 days for closed fractures.Patients spent a mean 52.6 days (28-77days) at the step down facility. 1 year mortality rate was 8% . Malunion and post traumatic arthritis rate was 11% each. There were no cases of deep surgical site infection or amputation. Conclusion: Open geriatric ankle fractures account for 12% of geriatric ankle fractures at our institution. They required longer length of stay and spent a mean 52.6 days at a stepdown facilty. Mortality rate was 8%. 50% of patients were able to return to previous ambulatory status. If the trend for geriatric ankle fractures continue to rise, health care systems need to cater for eventual increase in need for longer hospital stay and step down care.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011424S00120
spellingShingle Yuet Peng Khor MB ChB, FRCS(Orth)(Edin)
Manu Jacob Abraham MS Orthopaedics
Alynna Chua MBBS
A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
title A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution
title_full A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution
title_fullStr A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution
title_full_unstemmed A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution
title_short A Review of the Outcome of Geriatric Ankle Open Fracture Management at a Single Institution
title_sort review of the outcome of geriatric ankle open fracture management at a single institution
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011424S00120
work_keys_str_mv AT yuetpengkhormbchbfrcsorthedin areviewoftheoutcomeofgeriatricankleopenfracturemanagementatasingleinstitution
AT manujacobabrahammsorthopaedics areviewoftheoutcomeofgeriatricankleopenfracturemanagementatasingleinstitution
AT alynnachuambbs areviewoftheoutcomeofgeriatricankleopenfracturemanagementatasingleinstitution
AT yuetpengkhormbchbfrcsorthedin reviewoftheoutcomeofgeriatricankleopenfracturemanagementatasingleinstitution
AT manujacobabrahammsorthopaedics reviewoftheoutcomeofgeriatricankleopenfracturemanagementatasingleinstitution
AT alynnachuambbs reviewoftheoutcomeofgeriatricankleopenfracturemanagementatasingleinstitution