Comparative study on surgical treatment of weber type B fracture: Posterior versus lateral fixation with locking one-third tubular plate

Weber type B ankle fractures present a common surgical challenge, with the optimal fixation approach remaining debated. This retrospective study compared clinical and radiological outcomes of posterior versus lateral fixation using locking one-third tubular plates in 118 patients. Posterior fixation demonstrated superior biomechanical stability and fewer hardware-related complaints, whereas lateral fixation offered shorter operative duration. At six months, patients in the posterior fixation group achieved better functional recovery and experienced fewer soft tissue complications. These findings support posterior plating as an effective alternative to the conventional lateral approach in suitable cases.