No arthrosis of the ankle 20 years after malaligned tibial-shaft fracture

Abstract

We interviewed 92 patients with nonoperatively treated tibial-shaft fractures with a minimum of soft-tissue injury 20–39 years after the injury. Seventeen fractures had healed with an angular deformity exceeding 10°. Seven patients with and 15 without symptoms, but with an angular deformity exceeding 10° were examined clinically and radiographically. None of these 22 patients had arthrosis of the ankle. We concluded that angular deformity within 15° will not lead to restricted motion, pain, or arthrosis of the ankle.