Profile of individuals with unstable ankle fractures surgically treated in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais

During the adult life stage, the most frequent cause of ankle fractures is road-traffic accidents and sports activities. Over the past 20 years, the number of these fractures has increased in young and active patients, especially in younger men. This study aimed to describe the profile of individuals who suffered unstable ankle fractures treated surgically, through open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), in the Jequitinhonha Valley region, in Minas Gerais. Eighty-six patients (n=57, men; n=29, women) with unstable ankle fracture surgically treated was included in this study. They were prospectively admitted from July 2015 to November 2016 at two hospitals in region of Jequitinhonha Valley - Brazil. A sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire with 48 items was applied. The morphology of ankle fractures was analyzed according to the AO Foundation and Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification system. Out of 86 patients, young men predominated in all variables researched. The commonest injury cause seen was motorcycle crash followed by soccer accidents (p≤0.001). Regarding the sociodemographic variables of the study, we verified significant differences in the variables smoking (p≤0.05); racial composition (p≤0.001) work category (p≤0.01) and educational level (p≤0.05) of the patients. Thus, according to the results presented, we conclude that the profile of individuals who suffered unstable ankle fractures treated surgically, through open reduction and internal fixation(ORIF), in the Jequitinhonha Valley region, in Minas Gerais, are mostly adult men, brown, salaried employees, have a smoking habit and have a low level of education.