Trauma Grand Rounds: The Not So Simple Ankle Fracture

Ankle fractures are among the most common injuries treated by orthopedic surgeons. While straightforward management will lead to successful outcomes in many cases, some patients and some injuries are very challenging. This talk will address some of the difficult challenges in ankle fracture management and introduce strategies to optimize outcome.

Dr. Bishop specializes in treating fractures of the upper extremity, lower extremity, pelvis and acetabulum as well as the management of post-traumatic problems including malunion, nonunion and infection.

He received his undergraduate and medical school degrees from Harvard University and went on to complete the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program. He pursued his subspecialty training in Orthopaedic Traumatology at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

His research interests include medical education, studying clinical outcomes after musculoskeletal injury, orthopaedic biomechanics, the basic science of fracture healing, and evaluating new strategies and techniques in fracture surgery.

Gap:

• There are high rates of complications after surgical treatment of ankle fractures in geriatric and diabetic patients.
• The best technique for reducing and stabilizing the ankle syndesmosis is unknown.
• The appropriate indications and best techniques for posterior malleolus fracture treatment are controversial.

Desired Outcomes:

• Understand how to optimize surgical treatment of ankle fracture in poor hosts.
• Identify the best way to reduce and stabilize the syndesmosis.
• Establish indications and techniques for posterior malleolus surgery.

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