Efficacy of titanium locking plate combined with suture anchor repair on ankle joint functional recovery and quality of life in patients with ankle fractures

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of titanium locking plate combined with suture anchor (SA) repair in the treatment of ankle fractures (AF). Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data of 170 patients with AF who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics of Wuhan Fourth Hospital, China from May 2020 to June 2023 was conducted. A total of 83 patients underwent conventional open reduction and internal fixation (control group); 87 patients received titanium locking plates combined with SA repair (observation group). Ankle joint functional recovery (measured using the Mazur Ankle Grading Scale), quality of life (measured using the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74), and incidence of complications were compared between two groups. Active range of motion and muscle strength of the ankle joint in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion states, and medial clear space and talar tilt angle were also analyzed. Results: The rate of excellent recovery of ankle joint function in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Six months after surgery, active range of motion and muscle strength of the ankle joints in the plantar flexion and dorsiflexion states in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The medial clear space and talar tilt angle of the observation group was significantly smaller compared to the control group (P<0.05). The quality of life in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the incidence of complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Titanium locking plates combined with SA repair for the treatment of AF can significantly improve ankle joint functional recovery, improve the quality of life of patients, and is associated with a lower incidence of complications. (author)