Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39797975›Full record

SynthesisArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2025

Functional outcomes after ankle fracture-dislocation: a systematic review.

Helena F Barber, Zachary D Randall, Matthew J Strok, Jake H Goldfarb, Lauren Yaeger, Marschall B Berkes

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. [Preoperative application effect of reverse traction technique in trimalleolar fracture-dislocation of ankle].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. [Clinical study on reduction of posterior malleolar fractures via modified Rammelt transfibular approach].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2025
    Article
  4. [Clinical application of "talus home technique" in pronation open ankle fractures].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Helena F BarberDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. barberh@wustl.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8093-8036
Zachary D RandallWashington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Matthew J StrokWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Jake H GoldfarbWashington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Lauren YaegerWashington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Marschall B BerkesDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAnkle fractures represent a significant portion of orthopedic injuries, with fracture dislocations tending to have worse outcomes. Logsplitter fractures represent a subset of fracture dislocations in which the talus is axially wedged in the tibiofibular joint. We aim to comprehensively investigate and report on the complications and functional outcomes associated with ankle fracture-dislocations. MATERIALS AND

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, a medical librarian conducted a literature search in Embase, Ovid Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies examining ankle fracture-dislocations and reporting on functional or employment outcomes were included. Excluded were non-English studies, abstracts, conference proceedings, letters, perspective pieces, reviews, editorials, and case reports or series with fewer than five patients. Data on functional outcomes were extracted and reported using descriptive statistics. A comparative analysis of AOFAS scores between Logsplitter and ankle fracture-dislocations was conducted using pooled means and independent t-tests.

resultsA total of 21 studies involving 810 cases of ankle fracture-dislocations were included. The pooled mean AOFAS score across 13 studies was 81.5, indicating "good" outcomes, while Logsplitter injuries had a significantly lower mean score of 75.8 compared to 82.9 for other ankle fracture-dislocations (p = 0.016). Complications included wound infection (7.3%), posttraumatic osteoarthritis (29.2%), nonunion/malunion (12.6%), and malunion. No studies reported on employment outcomes.

conclusionsAnkle fracture-dislocations are high-energy injuries that affect a younger population compared to non-dislocated ankle fractures. Their functional outcomes resemble those of pilon fractures more than common ankle fractures. Logsplitter injuries are a subset of fracture dislocations that occur in even younger patients, with worse functional outcomes. This information can guide perioperative discussion and expectations for functional recovery. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the impact of these injuries on return to employment.

Indexed as

Ankle FracturesFracture DislocationJoint DislocationsHumansRecovery of FunctionAnkle fractureAnkle fracture-dislocationComplicationsFunctional outcomesLogsplitter

Identifiers

PMID39797975

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.