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ABSTRACT: Background
Indications for removal of syndesmotic screws are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to determine factors related to elective syndesmotic screw removal.Methods
Patients who underwent fixation of ankle syndesmotic injuries were included. Screw removal was offered after a minimum of 12 weeks after surgery for pain, stiffness or patient desire to remove painful or broken hardware. Patient demographics, surgical data, distance of the syndesmotic screw from the joint, location of the screw at the physeal scar, and number of syndesmotic screws placed were collected for all patients. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the relationship between patient characteristics and screw removal and independent predictors of hardware removal.Results
Of 160 patients, 60 patients (38%) with an average age of 36.1 (range: 18-84) years underwent elective syndesmotic screw removal at a mean of 7 (range, 3-47) months after initial fixation. The most common reason for screw removal (50/60 patients) was ankle stiffness and pain (83%). Patients who underwent screw removal were more likely to be younger (36.1 years ± 13.0 vs 46.6 years ± 18.2, P < .001) and have a lower ASA score (2 ± 0.8 vs 2.1 ± 0.7, P = .003) by bivariate analysis. Of patients who underwent screw removal, 21.7% (13/60) had a broken screw at the time of removal. Whether the screw was placed at the physeal scar was not significantly associated with patient decision for hardware removal (P = .80).Conclusion
Younger and healthier patients were more likely to undergo elective removal of syndesmotic hardware. Screw distance from joint and screw placement at the physeal scar were not significantly associated with hardware removal.Level of evidence
Level III, retrospective cohort study.
SUBMITTER: Bragg JT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10505342 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Bragg Jack T JT Masood Raisa M RM Spence Samara S SS Citron Julia E JE Moon Andrew S AS Salzler Matthew J MJ Ryan Scott P SP
Foot & ankle orthopaedics 20230701 3
<h4>Background</h4>Indications for removal of syndesmotic screws are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to determine factors related to elective syndesmotic screw removal.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients who underwent fixation of ankle syndesmotic injuries were included. Screw removal was offered after a minimum of 12 weeks after surgery for pain, stiffness or patient desire to remove painful or broken hardware. Patient demographics, surgical data, distance of the syndesmotic screw from the joint, l ...[more]