Nonoperative treatment of the medial malleolus in bimalleolar and trimalleolar ankle fractures: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare internal fixation with no fixation of the medial malleolus after open reduction and internal fixation of the lateral malleolus and if needed, the posterior malleolus.

Design: Randomized prospective trial.

Setting: Level III trauma center in a metropolitan area.