Modified posterolateral approach to the ankle: A novel approach to minimise soft tissue dissection

Abstract

Unstable ankle injuries often comprise multiple fracture lines; including a posterior malleolus fracture in up to 40% of cases. Surgical fixation of such injuries often requires multiple incisions. The configuration of the posterior malleolus fracture can also vary greatly, and the presence of this fracture is known to poorly affect patient outcomes. In this paper, the authors describe a modified posterolateral approach to the ankle which provides three windows for fixation of complex ankle fractures.