The Effect of Suture Embracing Nice Knot Elastic Fixation on Postoperative Joint Function Recovery and Complications in Patients with Ankle Fracture and Tibiofibular Injury

GAO Yue

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-7185.2025.10.007

Abstract：Objective To explore the application value of suture embracing Nice knot elastic fixation in patients with ankle fractures accompanied by tibiofibular injuries.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with ankle fractures and tibiofibular injuries in Mentougou District Hospital from January to December 2024 were selected and randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 60 patients in each group,by a random number table method.The control group accepted cortical bone screw fixation,while the observation group accepted suture wrapped Nice knot elastic fixation.The excellent rate,joint morphology and structure,and ankle joint function indicators were compared between the two groups.Results There were no statistically significant differences in operation duration,fracture healing time,intraoperative blood loss,time to ambulation,and hospital stay between the two groups(P>0.05).The time to full weight-bearing in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group(P<0.05).The excellent and good rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).Three months postoperatively,the levels of inferior tibiofibular joint space,medial joint space,and ankle mortise width difference in both groups decreased compared to pre-operative measurements,while the tibiofibular overlap increased compared to pre-operative measurements.However,there were no statistically significant differences between the groups(P>0.05).Three months postoperatively,the ankle joint function scores,dorsiflexion and plantarflexion degrees of the ankle joint in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion For patients with ankle fractures accompanied by tibiofibular injuries,using suture wrapped Nice knot elastic fixation can help improve the surgical success rate,ankle joint function,perioperative conditions,and reduce the incidence of complications.