Dr. Sean Nork (Haborview Medical Center)
Dr. Peter Cole (University of Minnesota)
Pilon fractures are complex injuries to the ankle region with disrupt the main weight bearing region of the shinbone (tibial) part of the ankle. Since these injuries affect a high stress area of a major moving joint surgical treatment is often preferable to nonoperative measures. Due to the very exposed nature of this joint, surgery in this area is very unforgiving. Dr. Nork and Dr. Cole present arguments favoring traditional open versus closed surgical treatments and identify substantial advancements which expert care of these injuries can produce.