Role of Preoperative Computed Tomography Scans in Operative Planning for Malleolar Ankle Fractures

Background:There remains no consensus regarding the role of computed tomography (CT) scans in preoperative planning for malleolar ankle fractures. The aim of this study was to determine the role of preoperative CT scans on operative planning in these fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 100 consecutive patients treated at our institution for malleolar ankle fractures (AO type 44) with both preoperative radiographs and CT scans. Six study participants reviewed available radiographs and formulated an operative (or nonoperative) plan including positioning, operative approach, and fixation. Participants then analyzed CT scans of the same fractures, deciding whether (and how) they would alter operative strategy. Characteristics of fractures and radiographs were correlated with changes in operative strategy.Results:Operative strategy was notably changed in 24% of cases after CT review, with strong intraclass correlation (0.733). Common changes included alterations in medial malleolar (21%...