Ankle Fractures
An ankle fracture is when one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint are broken.
The ankle joint consists of three bones: the tibia (shin bone), fibula (smaller bone next to the shin bone) and talus (small bone between heel and shin bone). A broken ankle is also known as an ankle “fracture.” This means that one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint are broken.
The tibia and fibular have specific parts that make up the ankle:
- Medial malleolus – inside part of the tibia
- Lateral malleolus – outside part of the fibula
- Posterior malleolus – back part of the tibia
A fractured ankle can range from a simple break in one bone, which may not stop you from walking, to several fractures, which forces your ankle out of place and may require that you not put weight on it for a few months and possible surgery.
Simply put, the more bones that are broken, the more unstable the ankle becomes. There may be ligaments damaged as well. The ligaments of the ankle hold the ankle bones and joint in position.
For more information on symptoms and specific treatment options, visit OrthoInfo.AAOS.org
Adapted from AAOS OrthoInfo