The most common symptoms of an ankle fracture are pain and swelling, either of which may be present only in the ankle region itself or spread to parts of the foot or up toward the knee. For this type of injury, an ankle X-ray may not show a fracture or demonstrate the instability associated with this injury, because the actual bone fracture is well above the ankle, and the ligament injuries can only be seen with other forms of imaging, such as an MRI. Maisonneuve fractureĪ Maisonneuve fracture, for example, involves a complete disruption of the ligaments around the ankle associated with a fracture of the fibula at the level of the knee. There are some additional, unique types of fractures. The treatment will be based on fracture alignment and stability of the ankle. Displaced – Fractured portions of bone are separated or misaligned.Nondisplaced – Bones are broken but still in correct position and alignment.Within each of the above types, the fracture will be either: Trimalleolar ankle fractures and pilon fractures have the most cartilage injury and, therefore, have a higher risk of arthritis in the future. This is usually a higher energy traumatic injury resulting from a fall from a height.Īs the number of fracture lines increase, so does the risk of long-term joint damage.
Pilon fracture (also called a plafond fracture): This is a fracture through the weightbearing “roof” of the ankle (the central portion of the lower tibia).Trimalleolar ankle fracture: This type involves breaks in three sides of the ankle: the medial malleolus, the lateral malleolus and distal (lower portion) of the posterior malleolus of the tibia.Bimalleolar ankle fracture: This second-most common type involves breaks of both the lateral malleolus and of the medial malleolus, the knobby bump on the inside of the ankle (in the lower portion of the tibia).It is a break of the lateral malleolus, the knobby bump on the outside of the ankle (in the lower portion of the fibula). Lateral malleolus fracture: This is the most common type of ankle fracture.The lower portion of the tibia forms the roof and medial (inside) of the ankle, while the lower portion of the fibula forms the lateral (outside) and posterior (back) of the ankle. Doctors think of the ankle as having three sides and a "roof," and fractures can occur in each of these areas or in combination. What are the different types of ankle fractures?īecause the ankle joint comprises three bones, there are numerous types of ankle fractures. They are also common in the navicular bone, which is separate from the ankle, but lies directly beneath the talus. Stress fractures can occur in any of the three ankle bones, especially the tibia or fibula. They can also occur in an active person who quickly increases their activity, for example when someone who is accustomed to jogging a few miles a week begins to train for a 26-mile marathon. What causes a stress fracture in the ankle?Īn ankle stress fracture usually occurs some time after a person begins a new activity that involves significant impact of the foot, such as hiking, running or field sports. But a bone in the ankle can also break due to repetitive stress or impact over time. But they can also be caused by a high-force impact, such as from a fall or automobile collision.īreaks that occur suddenly, during a specific incident or injury, are known as traumatic ankle fractures. What causes a broken ankle?īroken ankles are usually caused by a rotational injury, where the ankle becomes twisted, turned or rolled while walking or running, such as during sports activity. Thinning or damage to this cushion can lead to arthritis or inflammation in the joint. There is a cushion or lining between the bones, which is called cartilage. In the ankle joint or any joint in the body, two or more bones move relative to one another. If the deltoid ligament is torn in association with a fracture, the ankle is generally unstable. The deltoid ligament is found on the inner part of the ankle and provides the majority of the stability of the ankle. When ligaments are torn and associated with an ankle fracture, this damage can render the ankle unstable. They can also be injured in connection with ankle fractures. They are commonly injured in the case of ankle sprains. Ligaments connect bone to bone to provide stability of the joints. The talus (or "ankle bone") connects your leg to your foot. The ankle joint is composed of the tibia, fibula and talus bones.
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