Abstract:Objective To investigate the changes in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in patients with traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) after ankle fracture and their effect on ankle functional recovery.Methods The 78 patients who received surgical treatment for ankle fracture in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were selected. They were divided into a PTOA group (n = 36) and a non-PTOA group (n = 42) based on whether they had PTOA or not according to X-ray images 1 year after surgery. The general characteristics, surgical methods, postoperative complications, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) and serum ALP levels 1 year after surgery were compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to investigate the correlations between serum ALP levels and AOFAS scores and their influencing factors.Results The age, body mass index (BMI), fracture severity, degree of fracture displacement, and degree of involvement of the fractured articular surface in the PTOA group were significantly higher than those in the non-PTOA group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the sex composition and surgical methods between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative infections and the overall incidence of complications in the PTOA group were higher than those in the non-PTOA group (P < 0.05). The AOFAS score 1 year after surgery in the PTOA group was lower than that in the non-PTOA group (P < 0.05). The difference of serum ALP levels before and 1 year after surgery in the PTOA group was higher than that in the non-PTOA group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that serum ALP levels, age, BMI, fracture severity, degree of fracture displacement, degree of involvement of the fractured articular surface and postoperative complications were all negatively correlated with the AOFAS scores (r =-0.623, -0.412, -0.321, -0.278, -0.356, -0.389, and -0.467, all P < 0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that serum ALP levels, age, and postoperative complications were independent factors affecting AOFAS scores (b =-0.512, -0.234 and -0.278, all P < 0.05).Conclusions The serum level of ALP is increased in PTOA patients after ankle fracture and is negatively correlated with AOFAS scores, suggesting that ALP may be involved in the occurrence and development of PTOA and serve as a predictor and therapeutic target for PTOA.