Fracture of one of the bones that make up the joint that connects the leg to the foot. The ankle joint is formed by the long bones of the leg (tibia and fibula) and the talus of the foot. It is held together by lateral, medial, anterior and posterior ligaments. Ankle fractures are the most common fractures of the lower extremity and are often associated with dislocation.
The most common causes are road traffic accidents involving twisting of the ankle and sports or recreational injuries.
It is characterised by severe pain that is increased by movement or when the foot is placed on the ground. The joint swells quickly and a haematoma may develop. In some cases, the pain can radiate into the knee.
Diagnosis is made by asking about the symptoms, physical examination and x-rays of the ankle in different views. A CT-scan or MRI may be needed to further investigate tendon and ligament injuries.
- Simon, RR, Koenigsknecht, SJ. Fractures of the Ankle. In: Emergency Orthopedics: The Extremities, McGraw-Hill, New York 2001. p.497.
- Irwin TA, Lien J, Kadakia AR. Posterior malleolus fracture. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2013; 21:32.
- Willett K, Keene DJ, Mistry D, et al. Close Contact Casting vs Surgery for Initial Treatment of Unstable Ankle Fractures in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2016; 316:1455.
- Donken CC, Al-Khateeb H, Verhofstad MH, van Laarhoven CJ. Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating ankle fractures in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; :CD008470.
