Management of nonunion after an old - neglected ankle fracture in diabetic patient; case report

Ankle fractures represent 9% of fractures. Even if it is a relatively usual fracture, the presence of diabetes makes treatment more difficult and rate of complications is higher than in the rest of population.

The incidence of ankle fractures increased in the last half century. Many studies from SUA, England, Sweden and Finland suggest that the epidemiology of ankle fractures continues to change as populations age, up to the age 60 of years in men and above age of 50 years in women. Two-thirds of fractures are isolated malleolar fractures, bimalleolar fractures occur in one-fourth of patients and trimaleolar fractures occur in the rest of them.

We present a case of 60 years old women with non-insulin dependent diabetes for 22 years who sustained a fracture of ankle. Her first presentation at doctor was after 4 months after injury and surgical treatment occurred after 8 months after the injury. She was operated using an external fixator. Despite the fact the treatment was delayed, the evolution of lesion was good and patient could regained normal gate.