Fracture of Lateral Malleolus. Anteroposterior and lateral views. Click To Enlarge
Lateral malleolus is extension of fibula beyond the ankle joint.
It can be fractured in direct trauma or twisting injuries of ankle.
It is usuallly accompanied by ligamentous injuries on the medial side or fracture of medial malleolus.
The xray shows an undisplaced fracture of lateral malleolus in 34 year old man which resulted following a twisting injury to the ankle.
One of the concerns in malleolar fractures is subluxation of the ankle joint which may result if the fracture is displaced.
An undisplaced fracture of lateral malleolus is very well treated by non operative methods.
HI Dr Arun,
I had a Right Lateral Malleolus Fracture occured on may 15 from a motorcycle accident. Doctors have been advising not to put weight on my foot, i had surgery with a plate and 4 screws fitted on my ankle. My next appointment is 2nd June. Does this mean i m not suppose to put weight til 2nd june onwards? And if they mention i m not suppose to put weight can i just put my feet on the ground but just by sitting down ? It swells and hurts when ever i put my feet down might be cause of constant elevation. But is it ok to put my feet down occasionally to stretch out? Can i actually sleep sideways ? I'm currently using a splint for my ankle. i m quite a restless person so this immobility irritates me constantly. I m supposed to go back to work on the 6th of june. I dont know if i m walking or still on crutches.
@Noris Tavant,
As long as you do not put the weight on your foot it is ok to d any activity like stretching or touching the ground while sitting.
You are unlikely to walk independently by the date you have mentioned.
You can discus everything in detail with your treating doctor.
Dr Arun My question is could an undisplaced fracture of the tip of the lateral malleous in 1995 in 2011 cause a bone density medial to the distal fibula representing an old avulsed fracture. and then cause some sclerosis in the talus to now having to need a fusion of the talar dome.thanh you doug
@doug brazier,
Can you let me have a look at the xray both old and latest.
I cannot make much from your description.
Hi, I broke both my ankles (right: ankle fracture – less serious), (left – bi-malleolar fracture) and was taken to AE where they bandaged up both ankles with splint and couldn't plaster apparently because of severe swelling. At the AE, I asked if they were going to keep me in as they had told me not to bear any weight on either ankle. They said they weren't keeping me in because they only keep patients if they are to be operated on. When I left the hospital the left bi-mal. fracture was not displaced but I was warned that it could and I was told to come back in 5 days to see an orthopedic surgeon.
So here's my problem, I then went home (no ambulance) had to walk from the car to the house up stairs, had to walk to WC over the next 5 days because no equipment was provided or advised. Obviously, when I went back 5 days later the fracture was displaced and I had to be operated on and the ligaments repared. I am now 5 months on and suffering in a lot of pain and feeling infirm and almost handicapped some days and am wondering if the hospital shouldn't have kept me in at the beginning… What do you think? Thx
@CARO,
When a fracture occurs, the first thing is to immobilize the fracture, which you mentioned was done.
Whether to keep you or not depends on your health care system but that thought is not going to help you now.
What are your issues now.
My father had the exact same fracture as that on the sample xray of lateral malleolus. We were unable to see an orthopedic doctor but I immobilized it with a short leg brace. How long before he can put weight on that leg? It has been two weeks since he fractured it. Is it okay if he takes off the brace at night to sleep? It is still a little bit swollen.
@Brod,
The fractured should be immobilized in the night as well.
How is he doing now?
There's no more swelling and he denies any pain. But I know that it still hurts because he is still limping a little bit. He refuses to use the boot but uses a cane and wears a high top basketball shoes to stabilize his ankle. I don't know if this is ok, but he said it feels a lot better with the basketball shoes than the camboot. What can you advise? When should we get a second xray to see if it's healing? I'm having a very hard time convincing him that it takes at least 6wks before he can start to walk around with it.
@Brod,
I think you can get one now.
I have a probable remote fracture from the inferior tip of the lateral malleolus.. hit by a vehicle on July 30, 2011. X-ray done they said all is good and sent me home…put ace bandage on and have pain in ankle.. found out today , August 3, 2011 about fracture…what will be done since all these days have gone by without proper care?
@Deb Ogdin,
I am sorry for the delay and hope that your query would have been answered by now by your treatment
Hi Dr Arun,
I have a fracture in lateral malleolus, that is part of the fibula, lower limb long bone.My doctor told me that I have to put plates and screw to fix it.. I just wanted to know from you that wouldnt a cast fix the problem?
Putting a titanium plate sounds scary and not sure what side effects it might have?
Can you please provdie your expert advice plz
@Sushree,
The treatment would depend on the fracture configuration. Not all fractures are amenable to the treatment by cast.
An undisplaced fracture would be treatable by cast but a displace fracture would definitely need a fixation. THe indications for treatment are further modified by patient age, education, job, demands and expectations.
I ahve an undisplaced fracture of lateral mallelous (Tip) can i walk after 10 days
@Prashant,
In usual course no but would depend on your fracture pattern.