A Recent Study Demonstrates the Need for CT Scans in Complex Ankle Fractures

CT scans were shown to be better at detecting fractures over plain radiographs, according to a recent study by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS).[1] The study set out to determine the effects of computed tomography (CT) on both the detection of fractures as well as its effects in changing a surgeon’s overall operative plan.

Ankle fractures rank among the most common of injuries, with 150 out of 100,000 people experiencing a fracture every year. Of those injuries, up to half of them involve the posterior malleolus, a bone near the lower back of the tibia. Due to its position as well as its tendency to break irregularly, fractures in the posterior malleolus are particularly difficult for orthopedists to diagnose.[2] The AOFAS study noted that multiple past studies show that plain radiographs are unreliable for determining and diagnosing fractures. It remains imperative to have powerful imaging like CT in order to determine with complete confidence the presence ankle fractures of this kind as well as others.

The AOFAS study’s methods focused on finding patients with record of ankle fractures treated both operatively and nonoperatively. Patients were drawn entirely from the registry of the study’s home institution. Using this pool of more than three thousand patients, the study surveyed three orthopedic surgeons, asking them to determine if the radiograph of the fracture presented was complex or simple. Then, based on these scans, they asked these surgeons for their operative plan moving forward. In the study’s second part, the same surgeons were presented with a randomized set of CT scans from the same patients, and they were asked the same set of questions. Those in charge of the study then compared changes in operative approach, operative indications, and positioning after the CT scan was reviewed.

The results showed that complex fractures were less likely to be identified using a radiograph as compared to a CT scan. The writers of the study made suggestions based on these results to use CT scans more regularly in the diagnosis of ankle fractures. These results and this conclusion are consistent with prior studies, which generally agree that CT scans are more accurate, and are therefore more useful for orthopedic surgeons.

When it comes to complex fractures and fractures in the problematic posterior malleolus, this study affirms that CT scans are more reliable for developing operative plans. If the annual occurrence of ankle fractures continues to be so common, it’s important for orthopedic surgeons to take note of these results and adapt their methods.

To learn more about CT scanners that are ideal for orthopedic clients, click here.

[1] http://www.curvebeam.com/blog/a-recent-study-demonstrates-the-need-for-ct-scans-in-complex-ankle-fractures/#_ftn1

[2] https://www.verywell.com/posterior-malleolus-fractures-2549438

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

vitro
Analyzing the Suppressive TME in In Vitro Based Assays
April 19, 2025

In the rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy, accurately modeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) has become essential to improving the predictive power of preclinical drug testing. As immune-modulating therapies surge forward, with over 4,000 immune modulators in development globally, scientists are refining assay technologies that maintain the complexity of patient-specific tumor biology. In vitro platforms…

Read More
cancer
Targeting T Cells Within the Cancer Immunity Cycle
April 19, 2025

As cancer immunotherapy continues to reshape treatment landscapes, fine-tuning T-cell responses has become a critical frontier. Recent advances in 3D organoid models and high-content imaging are enabling scientists to closely mimic patient-specific tumor environments—unlocking insights into how T cells behave, respond, and falter under immune checkpoint blockade. With over 4,000 immune modulators in clinical…

Read More
cancer Immunity cycle
Advanced In Vitro Technologies to Investigate Therapeutic Impact on the Cancer Immunity Cycle
April 19, 2025

As immunotherapy revolutionizes cancer treatment, the need for physiologically relevant preclinical models becomes more urgent than ever. Despite the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a large majority of patients fail to achieve long-lasting responses, prompting researchers to explore more complex and predictive assays. The cancer immunity cycle, first described in 2013, remains a central framework…

Read More
resistance
Inside Oncology Drug Development: Overcoming Resistance with Science
April 19, 2025

In the last two decades, oncology has undergone a transformation with over 300 new cancer therapies approved by the FDA—many offering novel mechanisms of action. Despite these innovations, resistance to treatment remains a critical challenge, with cancer cells evolving or adapting to evade even the most advanced therapeutics. This issue is particularly pressing given that…

Read More