Ankle Fractures

• 10% of all fractures. 2nd m/c following femoral neck Fx. Demographics: young active males and older osteoporotic females
• Stable Fx: overall prognosis is good
• Unstable Fx: require ORIF. 15%-20% chances of 2nd OA.
• Role of imaging is to determine the complexity, stability and care planning (i.e. operative vs. conservative)
• Weber classification considers tearing of distal tibial-fibular syndesmosis and potential instability
• Weber A – below syndesmosis. Stable, typically avulsion of distal fibular malleolus
• Weber B – at the level of syndesmosis: may be outside syndesmosis and stable or tearing syndesmosis and unstable
• Weber C – above syndesmosis. Always nstable d/t tearing of syndesmosis
• Variations of fractures may involve the postition/role of the talus bone during Fx (e.g. abduction, adduction, rotation etc.) this is known as Lauge-Hanson classification

Tibiofibular Syndesmosis & Ankle Stability

• Denis-Weber classification of ankle fractures

Clinical Dx Accuracy

• Ankle Fractures could be facilitated by the “Ottawa Rule“

Mortise & AP Views

AP, Medial Oblique & Lateral Views

• Reveal infrasyndesmotic Fx of fibular malleolus (Weber A)
• Stable Injury
• Conservative care in the form of short-leg walking cast/boot can be used. Good recovery. If no evidence of ostechondral injury, relatively low chances of post-traumatic OA
• No further imaging required. MRI may help to reveal bone contusion and osteochondral injury

Weber B at Level of Syndesmosis

• Can be stable or unstable. On occasions, the decision is made during operative exploration.
• CT scanning may help with further evaluation
• Management: depends on stability. Additional stabilization required if syndesmosis is ruptured

Weber C

• AP, medial oblique and lateral views reveal Weber C – suprasyndesmotic injury with abnormal joint widening d/t disruption of tib-fib syndesmosis. Very unstable injury.
• Occasionally, when Weber C Fx positioned 6-cm from the tip of the lateral malleolus it may be termed as Pott’s ankle Fx (name after Percival Pott’s who has porposed the original classification of ankle fractures based on their stability and degree of rotation). The term is somewhat outdated.
• Management: operative with additional stabilization of the syndesmosis

Maisonneuve Fracture

• Often spiral fracture of the proximal fibula combined with an unstable ankle injury
• No immediate ankle fracture is noted radiographically, thus can be missed on ankle views and require tibia and fibula views
• Rad features: widening of the ankle d/t syndesmosis tear and sometimes deltoid ligament disruption. Interosseous membrane is torn with proximal fibular Fx caused by pronation with external-rotation force
• Management: operative

Bimalleolar & Trimalleolar Fx

• Above top images Bimalleolar Fx v. unstable, result of pronation and abduction/external rotation. Rx: ORIF.
• Trimalleolar Fx: 3-parts ankle Fx. Medial and lateral malleolus and avulsion of theposterior aspect of tibial plafond. More unstable. Rx: operative

Tillaux Fx

• Pediatric Fx affecting older child when medial side of the physis is closed or about to close with lateral side till open. Avulsion by anterior tibi-fibular ligament. Complications: 2nd dry/premature OA. Rx: can be conservative if stable by boot cast immobilization.

Pediatric Growth Plate Injuries

• Salter-Harris classification helps to diagnose and prognosticate physeal injuries.
• Helpful mnemonic: SALTR
• S: type 1-slip through growth plate
• A: type 2-above, Fx extends into metaphysis
• L: type 3-lower, intra-articular Fx extends through the epiphysis
• T: type4, “through” Fx extends through all: physis, metapysis and epiphysis.
• R: type 5, “ruined.” Crush injury to physis leading to complete death of teh growth plate
• Type 1 and 5: present with no fracture
• Type 2: has the best prognosis and considered the most common.
• Management: referral to pediatric orthopedic surgeon
• Complications: early physis closure, limb shortening, premature OA and others.

Calcaneal Fracture

• Most frequent tarsal Fx. 17% open Fx
• Mechanisms: axial loading (intra-articular Fx into sub-talar and calcaneal-cuboid joints in 75% cases). Avulsion by Achilles tendon (m/c in osteoporotic bone). Stress (fatigue) Fx.
• Intra-articular Fx carries a poor prognosis. Typically comminuted. Rx: operative.
• B/I calcaneal intra-articular fx with associated vertebra compression Fx with associated vertebral compression Fx (T10-L2) often termed Casanova aka Don Juan (Lover’s) fx.
• Imaging: x-radiography with added “heel view” 1st step. CT scanning is best for Dx and pre-op planning.
• Radiography: Bohler’s angle (<20-degrees) Gissane angle >130-degrees. Indicate Calcan, Fx.

Tarsal Bones

• M/C fractured tarsal bone is the Talus. M/C region: talar neck (30-50%). Mechanism: Axial loading in dorsiflexion. Complications: Ischemic osteonecrosis (AVN) of the talus. Premature (2nd OA). Imaging: 1st step: radiographs, CT can be helpful with further delineation
• Hawkins classification helps with Dx, prognosis & treatment. “Hawkins sign’ on plain film/CT scan may help with AVN Dx. (above blue arrows indicate good prognosis d/t radioluncent line indicating no AVN because bone is vascularized and hence resorbed)
• Rx: Type 1: conservative with short leg cast or boot (risk of AVN-0-15%), Type 2-4-ORIF (risk of AVN 50%-100%)

Ankle & Foot Imaging