Fracture of the lateral malleolus. Comparison of 2 fixation methods in cadavers.

20 pairs of lateral malleolar fracture were created by an osteotome at autopsy of elderly patients and repaired on one side with staples and cerclage wire and on the other side with plate and screws. The stability of the fixation was then tested in an apparatus creating outward rotational load. The breaking load in fractures fixated with staples and wire was about 60 percent (18 SD 7.6 Nm) of the plated fibular fractures (32 SD 11 Nm). However, at an outward deflection up to 30 degrees there was no difference in breaking load with the two methods of fixation.