Comparing the Knotless Tension Band and the Traditional Stainless Steel Wire Tension Band Fixation for Medial Malleolus Fractures: A Retrospective Clinical Study

Figure 1

(a) demonstrates reduction of the fracture with two parallel 0.062 k-wires for the tension band effect; (b) shows the 3.4 mm drill, the Arthrex SwiveLock™ tap, the Arthrex no. 2 FiberTape™, and Arthrex 4.75 mm SwiveLock anchor; (c) shows that the 3.4 mm drill was utilized for the anchor hole, being careful to maintain equidistance from the fracture site to the distal portion of the medial malleolus for the anchor hole; (d) shows that the 4.75 mm SwiveLock tap was utilized down to the laser line; (e) demonstrates the FiberTape being wrapped around the distal k-wires and both ends being placed through the 4.75 mm SwiveLock eyelet; (f) shows the FiberTape being tightened to appropriate tension and the SwiveLock anchor was advanced burying the anchor past the black line with the Arthrex AO handle; (g) shows the mallet being used to advance the anchor; (h) shows that the fracture reduced and in adequate anatomical alignment the k-wires were bent, cut, and rotated to avoid soft tissue irritation.

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