The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Oct 2004
Stress examination of supination external rotation-type fibular fractures.
Deltoid incompetence in association with an isolated fibular fracture is assumed to be present if there is medial tenderness, ecchymosis, or substantial swelling. We sought to determine whether these soft-tissue indicators predict deltoid incompetence by comparing such findings with the findings on stress radiographs. ⋯ Stress radiographs allow for the accurate diagnosis of deltoid incompetence in patients with Weber type-B SE fibular fractures and no other osseous injury. Soft-tissue indicators are not accurate predictors of instability. If medial tenderness, ecchymosis, and swelling are used as operative indications, in some cases surgery may be performed on stable ankles.