Ankle fractures in patients over age 55 years

Abstract

Abstract. Objectives:. To identify predictors of functional outcomes following treatment of ankle fracture in patients 55 years or older. Setting:. Level 1 Trauma Center. Patients/participants:. Four hundred twenty-nine patients with torsional ankle fractures (44A-C): 233 patients (54%) were ages 55 to 64, 25% were between the ages 65 and 74; 21% were 75 years or older. Intervention:. Operative or nonoperative management of ankle fracture. Main outcome measure:. Early complications were assessed for all patients after minimum of 6 months, and functional outcome scores as assessed by the Foot Function Index (FFI; n = 166, 39%) and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA; n = 168, 39%) after median 57 months follow-up. Results:. Surgical management was elected in 67% of patients. Nonoperative management became more common with advancing age and was associated with fewer unplanned operations (12% vs 3%, P 15, P < .05). Sex, Hispanic ethnicity, tobacco use, open fracture, dislocation, fracture pattern, and operative management were not independent predictors in this regression model. Conclusions:. Baseline health and ambulatory capacity at injury were more predictive of outcomes following ankle fracture than were fracture characteristics or type of treatment.