How many proximal cortical screws were used in the right ankle fixation?

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Proximal fixation with a plate relies on securing the plate to the proximal bone with enough purchase to prevent rotation or toggling, while avoiding excessive hardware that can irritate soft tissues or riskbat fractures from too many drill holes. In an ankle fixation, the proximal portion of the fibula (or tibia, depending on the fracture pattern) is typically stabilized with two well-placed cortical screws to achieve solid purchase across the plate’s proximal end. This provides adequate stability without crowding the bone or joints or risking complications from additional screws. More screws aren’t always necessary and can increase soft-tissue irritation or compromise bone integrity in the metaphyseal region. Therefore, two proximal cortical screws are generally sufficient and appropriate for standard right ankle fixation. If bone quality is poor or the fracture is highly comminuted, changes like locking screws or additional fixation may be considered, but the typical approach is two.