Fibula Nailing: A Retrospective Review of 110 Consecutive FibuLock Nails.

Abstract

To evaluate the treatment of unstable lateral malleolar fractures using a fibula nail with both proximal and distal locking capabilities. Retrospective review of 110 single-surgeon consecutive fibula nails. Single-surgeon, private practice community hospital. One hundred ten fractures, 92 OTA/AO 44B and 18 OTA/AO 44C. FibuLock fibula nail (Arthrex, Naples, FL). Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic outcome data. One hundred two patients/102 fractures met criteria. Ninety percent had a f/u of ≥12 months (mean 12.2 months). All fractures healed. There were no superficial or deep infections, no nonunions, or malunions. Two fractures required conversion to plate fixation intraoperatively because of excessive comminution which precluded the use of a nail, while one patient sustained an iatrogenic superficial peroneal nerve neuroma. No patients reported implant irritation, and none have required implant removal. Fibula nails with proximal locking capabilities offer an alternative to plating with the potential for lower complication rates and lower need for implant removal. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.