Radiologic Assessment for Evaluating the Post-operative Reduction of Syndesmosis: A Retrospective Study

Background: Assessing the reduction of syndesmosis is highly recommended due to the complications occurring after the malreduction of the syndesmosis. This study evaluated the post-operative Computed Tomography (CT) scans and standard plain radiographs for assessing the reduction of syndesmosis post-operatively. Objectives: Evaluating the radiologic assessments of post-operative reduction of syndesmosis. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 45 patients presented with ankle fractures and syndesmosis failure to the emergency department of our hospital between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated by post-operative CT scans and plain radiographs. Results: Diastasis was demonstrated in 18 patients (40%) in plain radiographs, in 4 patients (8%) by tibial clear space, in 5 patients (11%) by medial clear space, in 10 patients (22%) by AP tibiofibular overlap, and in patients 8 (17%) by mortise tibiofibular overlap. Diastasis was demonstrated in 24 patients (53%) in CT scans, of whom 18 patients had abnormal radiographic parameters, while 6 patients had normal radiographic parameters. Conclusion: We found a post-operative CT scan more useful than standard plain radiographic measurement for assessing the reduction of the syndesmosis. We suggest the use of post-operative CT scan as a routine to evaluate the syndesmosis reduction.