Ankle Fracture (cont.)
Types of Ankle Fractures
The type of ankle fracture classification depends upon the location of the fracture and which bones of the ankle are fractured. There can be one bone injured, or multiple bones injured. The type and severity of the fracture will determine the treatment by the orthopedic surgeon; a classification list is as follows:
Lateral Malleolus Fracture
- The lateral malleolus is the bump on the outer part of the ankle and is made up of the fibula bone.
Medial Malleolus Fracture
- The medial malleolus is the bump on the inside of the ankle and is made up of the tibia bone.
Posterior Malleolus Fracture
- The posterior malleolus is the bony prominence on the back side of the tibia, and is rarely injured on its own.
- "Bi" means two, so two bones of the ankle are fractured with a bimalleolar fracture.
- Most commonly the lateral malleolus and the medial malleolus are the bones that are fractured.
- Bimalleolar fractures often make the ankle joint unstable.
- "Tri" means three so in a trimalleolar fracture, all three malleoli (medial, lateral, and posterior) bones of the ankle are broken.
- These are unstable injuries often caused by a large amount of force, disruption of the ligaments, or a dislocation.
- Also called "high ankle sprains."
- Usually a result of ankle eversion (outward twisting of the ankle joint).
- May or may not be associated with an actual fracture of the bones of the ankle, but is often treated as a fracture.
- May involve fracture of the fibula (outer bone in the lower leg) higher up in the calf near the knee (proximal) in severe ankle sprains, also called a Maisonneuve fracture.
There are other names for ankle injuries; however, most will fit into the general types listed above.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 3/13/2015
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