Closed treatment of ankle fractures: a new criterion for evaluation - a review of 250 cases.

A new approach to determine the adequacy of closed reduction of ankle fractures was applied to a series of 250 cases over a 1-year period at the Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego, California. We propose that the determination of the "talo-crural angle" on the uninjured side will serve as a guide for the adequate closed reduction of the fractured ankle, if it is reduced to within 2 degrees of the "talo-crural angle" of the uninjured side.