Description
The presentation, led by Joanne Round, covers the treatment approach for a 69-year-old lady who experienced an ankle injury while walking in New Forest and has a history of osteoporosis. Joanne discusses potential treatment options, including modern approaches like plate and screw fixation and pro tibial fixation, which has shown promise for preserving ankle mobility and enabling early weight bearing in osteoporotic patients.
The method of pro tibial fixation reintroduces an older technique that supports the fibula using the tibia to allow for better stability and mobility post-surgery. While emphasizing consideration of soft tissue integrity and the need for individualized treatment based on patient activity levels and health conditions, Joanne suggests that this method can provide significant benefits for active, elderly patients who require effective fixation with less risk of complications. She also highlights emerging data that supports pro tibial fixation over traditional methods based on biomechanical studies.
In the discussion that follows, both Joanne and Steve Borland engage with questions from the audience, explicitly addressing concerns about surgical techniques, hardware implications, and patient selection criteria. Joanne further clarifies her stack of fixation techniques for specific patient profiles, emphasizing the importance of a tailored approach in orthopedic surgery for older, frailer populations.