No arthrosis of the ankle 20 years after malaligned tibial-shaft fracture

We interviewed 92 patients with nonoperatively treated tibial-shaft fractures with minimum of soft-tissue injury 20-39 years after the injury. Seventeen fractures had healed with an angular deformity exceeding 10 degrees. Seven patients with and 15 without symptoms, but with angular deformity exceeding 10 degrees, were examined clinically and radiographically. None of these 22 patients had arthrosis of the ankle. We concluded that angular deformity within 15 degrees will not lead to restricted motion, pain, or arthrosis of the ankle.