• What is an Ankle Fracture?

• The ankle joint is made of the tibia & fibula of the leg and the talus bone of the foot and forms a mortise joint that acts like a hinge.A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. Fractures in the ankle can range from the less serious avulsion injuries (small pieces of bone that have been pulled off) to severe shattering-type breaks of the tibia, fibula or both. Ankle fractures are common injuries most often caused by the ankle rolling inward / outward. 

 

How is it commonly injured?

These sort of injuries are normally high velocity trauma injuries which involve a rotation or oblique force through the bone

​

Classification and Signs and Symptoms of this injury

• Tibia fractures are normal classified using the 

• Fibula fractures are normally classified using the Weber system

​

Currently management techniques

• Conservative treatment involves a 6 week period of rest and immobilisation on crutches non weight bearing.

• Often these injuries are surgical fixes particularly if the fractures are not stable.

• ORIF (open reduction with internal fixation) and even Ext fixation techniques are used depending on the injury and how many fractures there are

• They then involve a period of immobilisation with non weight bearing to enable healing of the bones.

• Rehabilitation can begin earlier than 6 weeks and is primarily involved in looking to reduce swelling and take care of the wound and minimise loss of range of motion and strength.

​

​