ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews ankle fractures in older patients and focuses on the changing epidemiology, treatment strategies and surgical options when traditional treatment methods fail. It presents common complications as well as solutions that can be utilized to treat these fractures and prevent their occurrence. Operative management for ankle fractures in the elderly is associated with better results, but the surgeon has a number of challenges which differ from those encountered in younger patients. The standard technique used to treat ankle fractures in all ages is compression plating of the fibula with screw fixation of the medial malleolus and posterior malleolus, if required. Posterolateral antiglide plating can also be used for fibular stabilization. Most surgeons have shown that elderly patients generally have good results if their ankle fractures are treated appropriately. The outcome and quality of life after surgically treated ankle fractures in patients ≥65 years of age was studied by B. E. Nilsson et al. in Sweden.
