Ankle Case 3 Background

Malleolar Fractures

Malleolar fractures are commonly encountered in emergency medicine. They typically result from twisting injuries. Two-thirds are isolated to the lateral malleolus (distal fibula). One quarter are bimalleolar (involving the medial malleolus). 7% are trimalleolar (lateral and medial malleolus plus posterior distal tibia), and about 2% are open fractures
 
The primary issue when assessing these injuries is ankle stability. Fractures are less stable when: fibula fractures are at or proximal to the tibia-fibula syndesmosis and/or medial and lateral ankle injury is present.