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Contents
  • What Causes Ankle Fractures?
  • Types of Ankle Fractures
  • Diagnosing Ankle Fractures
  • Risk Factors to Consider

Ankle Fractures: What You Need to Know

Ankle Fractures: What You Need to Know

The Big Picture

Ankle fractures are common injuries that need proper care to ensure healing. Understanding these fractures can help you manage them better or seek the right treatment.
Contents
  • What Causes Ankle Fractures?
  • Types of Ankle Fractures
  • Diagnosing Ankle Fractures
  • Risk Factors to Consider

What Causes Ankle Fractures?

Ankle fractures often occur due to bending forces during activities like sports or falls. They are described by the position of the ankle and the force applied, such as 'supination/external rotation' injuries. These injuries typically stretch or compress the ankle structures, leading to fractures.

Types of Ankle Fractures

The majority of ankle fractures are malleolar, with unimalleolar, bimalleolar, and trimalleolar fractures being common types. Each type varies in stability and may require different treatments. Men are more prone to these fractures in young adulthood, while women have a higher rate in older age.
An ankle fracture is a break in one or more bones that make up the ankle joint, often caused by bending forces during activities like sports or falls. Types include unimalleolar, bimalleolar, and trimalleolar fractures.

Diagnosing Ankle Fractures

The Ottawa ankle rules help determine if X-rays are needed for ankle injuries. Typically, an ankle fracture is diagnosed using X-rays from different angles to understand the extent and nature of the fracture. This information helps decide if surgery is needed.

Risk Factors to Consider

Factors like smoking and high body mass index increase the risk of ankle fractures. Interestingly, bone density is not a clear risk factor, unlike other fractures common in older women.

FAQs

What are common causes of ankle fractures?

They are often caused by bending forces during activities like sports or falls.

Which type of ankle fracture is most common?

Unimalleolar fractures are the most common.

Can smoking affect ankle fracture risk?

Yes, smoking is associated with a higher risk.

Do more women or men get ankle fractures?

Rates are similar, but men have more in young adulthood, and women have more between 50-70 years.

Key Takeaways

Understanding ankle fractures helps in managing and seeking appropriate treatment.
Want to learn more about managing ankle fractures? Talk with Doctronic today!
Additional References
  1. Daly PJ, Fitzgerald RH Jr, Melton LJ, Ilstrup DM. Epidemiology of ankle fractures in Rochester, Minnesota. Acta Orthop Scand 1987; 58:539.
  2. Jensen SL, Andresen BK, Mencke S, Nielsen PT. Epidemiology of ankle fractures. A prospective population-based study of 212 cases in Aalborg, Denmark. Acta Orthop Scand 1998; 69:48.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.