Conference as part of the search for a professor in Orthopaedics
Precise time: 11:40-12:20
Summary: Conservative treatment in orthopedic surgery receives insufficient attention, particularly for malleolar fractures—the most common fractures of the foot and ankle (incidence of 16,500 cases/year in CH). Given that postoperative complication rates can reach up to 10%, this translates to 1,650 complications annually.
To reduce these complications while still achieving favorable clinical outcomes, a thorough reevaluation of treatment approaches is necessary. A comprehensive, multidirectional research strategy should be adopted, integrating cadaver studies, clinical research with patient-reported outcomes, and biomechanical analyses such as gait studies.
Non-operative management should be assessed not only for safety and effectiveness but also for its potential cost-efficiency. Reconsidering traditional surgical protocols may lead to improved outcomes for both patients and healthcare systems.