Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40439944›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology2025

Reduction and outcome of posterior pilon fractures with intercalary fragments: a retrospective cohort study comparing the transfibular and posteromedial approaches.

Li Ying, Can Yao, Bin Wang, Junbo Liang, Guofu Chen

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Li Ying *Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, No. 150 Ximen Street, Linhai, 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Can Yao *Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, No. 150 Ximen Street, Linhai, 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Bin WangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, No. 150 Ximen Street, Linhai, 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Junbo LiangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, No. 150 Ximen Street, Linhai, 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Guofu ChenDepartment of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, No. 150 Ximen Street, Linhai, 317000, Zhejiang Province, China. Tzcgf586@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6707-7112

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe transfibular fracture region (TFFR) approach can be utilized for managing posterior pilon fractures associated with intercalary fragments. However, its long-term outcomes remain unreported. This study aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes of the TFFR approach and the posteromedial approach for posterior pilon fractures (Klammer type 2/3, Danis-Weber type B) associated with displaced intercalary fragments over an average 8 year follow-up.

methodFrom 2012 to 2018, a cohort of consecutive patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery via either the TFFR approach or the posteromedial approach for posterior pilon fracture associated with intercalary fragments were enrolled for this study. Clinical outcomes were evaluated over an average 8 year (range 5-12 years) follow-up. The surgical duration, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, and postoperative complications were recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) score at last follow-up.

resultsSeventy-nine patients were included in the final analysis, including 43 in the TFFR group and 36 in the posteromedial group. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the FAOS (p = 0.679) or its specific components for symptoms (p = 0.264), pain (p = 0.963), activities of daily living (ADL, p = 0.102), sports (p = 0.156), or quality of life (p = 0.859). There was also no significant difference between the two groups in the FAAM-ADL (p = 0.408), FAAM-Sport (p = 0.617), and SF-36 scores (p = 0.757). Nevertheless, the surgical duration was shorter in the TFFR group (p < 0.001).

conclusionThe TFFR approach is not inferior to the posteromedial approach. For posterior pilon fractures with lateral malleolar fractures in the same plane, the TFFR approach may be preferred owing to its potential to reduce surgical time and the use of a single incision. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Indexed as

Ankle FracturesFracture Fixation, InternalOpen Fracture ReductionTibial FracturesAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultFibular fractureIntercalary fragmentLong-term follow-upPosterior pilon fractureTransfibular fracture region approach

Identifiers

PMID40439944
PMCPMC12122404

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.