Orthopedic Care and Consultation
A malleolus is a projection of bone beyond ankle joint. The medial one is called medial malleolus. Other arising from tibia is called posterior. A counterpart called lateral malleolus is distal end of fibula
Medial Malleolus may get fractured in ankle injuries.
Tghe present xray shows a fractured medial malleolus in the lateral view. Anteroposterior view is of the same ankle and can be passed as normal thus emphasizing need for two views.
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Dr. Singh,
I found out from my podiatrist today that I have a bone chip at the end of my medial malleolus. It's been there since I have ankle joint replacement revision surgery almost a year ago. (doctor removed bone growth in the ankle and replaced the poly liner). My podiatrist wants me to wear a CAM walker with orthotic for 6 weeks to allow the bone to heal. What other things can I do to heal the bone faster and help with the pain and inflammation? Thanks in advance!
@Lisa,
Anti-inflammatory medication would take care of pain and inflammation.
Take good diet and follow the advice of your doctor. Bone healing takes time and as such there is no method to expedite the process.
You can only ensure that you provide the optimal environment by following whatever your doctor advised.
I fractured my right ankle at the end of April (not sure of the medical term however it is the inside bone) I did this simply by walking and my ankle gave out. I was told there could have been a previous fracture as well. The diagnosis was a fracture and torn ligaments. Was put in a walking cast for 3 weeks and told there were no limitations with the cast. Upon return to the hospital the specialist who had first seen me was unavailable. The new specialist said there was no way that it could be healed x rayed and said another 3 weeks. Cast was removed precribed a brace and I went to physio told only to come back if I got bad pain. I returned to the specialist because I still have pain. The are requesting an MRI. My questions is that I do not only have pain on the bone but under it and along the inside of my foot there is even a little bone on the inside of the foot that hurts. Any ideas? I'm uncertain that the doctor made the right diagnosis the first time. A little insight would be appreciated.
Thank-You
@Chantal,
I am sorry but I cannot comment on your problem with the information you have provided.
Can I have look at the xrays! What does MRI say?
I got the MRI results and they say that the fracture has not healed and a ligament on the opposite side of the ankle is completly torn My doctor says I need to have a screw put in but that the ligament will heal on it's own. Is that true?
@Chantal,
I do not your exact picture but yes that is true for a number of situations.
I sprained my ankle on October 9, 2010 and it was getting better. I sprained it on the outside, but now the inside of my ankle hurts. I have been walking on it very gingerly and had been feeling better. I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes at 1.5 on October 23, 2010 and now my ankle has sharp pains on the inside. Have I further injured myself?
@Cheryl Bourgeois,
Sorry for the delay in reply. How are things now?
My 16 yr old son refractured his medial malleolus. First time summer 2009(twisting his foot on a basketball court), wore a cast for 6 wks, seemed to heal without problems. August 2010, playing soccer, slid into another player, broke again. His orthopedic surgeon placed 3 screws this time. It is now 4 months since surgery, very little discomfort, going to physical therapy, but has not been released for sports yet. He has had monthly x-rays which appear to show healing according to my radiologist friend and is the consulting m.d. But he has also had 2 C.T. scans which do not appear to show complete healing. The orthopod told us he would check again after the first of the year, but now told us he won't see our son for another 2 months, because he doesn't want to keep radiating him with the C.T. scans. Questions, shouldn't this be healed by now with fixtures in place? Could there be another reason for imcomplete union? Should we have a blood test? Lastly, how dangerous is a C.T. of the ankle? Is a monthly C.T. too much radiation? My son if flipping out with this situation and wants us to take him to another doctor. We don't know if we should get a second opinion. Thanks for your help.
@Nick Romac,
The dictum is – if you are in doubt or are not satisfied, get a second opinion.
It entirely does depend on you and your situation.
I am not sure why CT is being done if xray is showing union. Most likely it is not.
CT per se is not dangerous and I do not think that repeated CTs for short duration are cause of any concern.
But it is generally not done to find union.
My ankle was fractured and a screw was fixed in the molecule bone , now its one year completed, whenever I happen to walk on cold weather there is a slit pain, and when roll my hands on the ankle molecule I can feel the nervous and it is tickling. Is it good to removed the screw now ?. And now I am in USA, will it be expensive here to remove the screw.
@selvan,
If the fracture has united and screw is giving trouble, it should be removed after passage of sufficient time.
You would need to find out the cost yourself though.
I hope that helps.
I had a trimalleaolar ankle fracture on 2 August 2010, which required open reduction internal fixation.
I went to see my consultant on 10th January and have been told that the posterior malleolus fracture is not fully united and the lateral malleolus fracture shows there is still a fracture line seen proximally. The medial malleolus fracture is the only one fully united.
Is this normal to not be fully united 5 months on? It is now 6 months and still experiencing a lot of pain. When walking it gives way and very painful, also clicks. If it doesnt unite itself will it require surgery again or be left?
Thank you.
@Carly Munro,
No! It is not normal. The further treatment would depend on fracture types and status of union.
Did you talk to your doctor about it?
Some couple of weeks ago, I developed sudden pain in my medial side of the lower end of tibia (malleolus).I cant recollect injuring myself.When walking, I get pain over the lower end of tibia but hardly if any in the ankle joint. I had AP and lateral views xrays, I am on valsartan 80mgs.odfor my blood pressure control.It as you know have effect on renal funcitons, pp creatinine, urea and not sure about uric acid. Creatinine is 2.21mg/dl, urea 49.3 mg/dl and uric acid of 7.7 mg/dl. Xray is reported normal.In view of these findings, Gout is possibility and started on Colchicine. It is the localized tenderness over the mid portion of the malleolus.. I propose to have MRI scan. In the mean time, I take analgesics (paracetamol, diclophenec, ibuprofen jel for local application. I shall appreciate your advice.I am a retired GP and 73 yrs.
old.
@Dr.Harendra Vyas,
Yes! MRI is the next investigation but you should first consider consulting an orthopedecian in person.
All the Best.
Hi,
I have fractured my right leg near the ankle area in an accident from bike. On inspection doctor detected right medial malleolus fracture which then fixed with malleolar screws. After surgery doctor advised me to take the bed rest and not put any weight on that leg for 6 weeks. So please let me know what time it will take to cure it and whether it will cause any pain in future.
Also please let me know the adequate diet for it.
Thanks in Advance!!!!!!
@Amit Bhomle,
Please follow your doctor's advice. He would be in better position to guide you.
i had fracture left medial malleolus on left leg.I had the surgery on 9th may 2011.and operative procedure was ORIF with 2K-wires(TBW).I have continous pain from that day,but it is tolerable and i have no fever from surgery day.I want to know in how many days i can be all right like before completely and in how many days i can walk by taking pressure on my left heel.what is problem in this type of fracture?Please also tell me that Can i move my toe or not now?
Please help as I found u very good in replying.
@Vikas Gupta,
You can move your toes, those are not going to affect your fracture.
Your doctor would be a better guide for instructions on bearing weight.
It generally takes 6-8 weeks for fracture to unite and it is folloeed by few weeks of physiotherapy to regain full function.
Dr. Singh, my father had a medial malleolus fracture and it has been repaired by screw fixation.
However the lateral X-ray is showing screw protruding out of the posterior cortex. i can see atleast 3-4 threads.
1. Is that right or the surgeon has used a longer than required screw size. The surgeon is saying it is alright.
2. Will it require a re-surgery.
3. Will there be any complications if left.
Kind regards
@Dr. Amit,
3-4 threads should not be cause of concern. How are things now?
Dr. Singh
I recently fractured my medial malleous in the region closest tibia,where it curves down. The Doctor placed screws in there. I wondering what affects this will have on my ability to stand up for long hours, as i work on my feet alot. Will bicycling be an effect motion enhancer and rehab? Also… They induced me with nerve blocks to manage the post procedure pain…12hrs later, no feeling has been restored to my leg below the knee level, my toes are numb-tingling, and the temperature of my -numb-tingling toes- is considerably much more warm.
What is going on?:)
CG
@CG,
As the time passes, most of your questions would be answered.
How are things?
Dr. Singh
I fractured my tibia during an accident in march 2011 hospitalized for 2 days and the doctor has put 2 malleolar screws 4.5 cm each. Upon seeing the x-ray after 3 months now, he has told its healing perfect and has told me that he will remove the screws after a year.
My question is, should the screws be removed ? what will happen if they remain there itself ? I am very much averse to getting hospitalized for another 2 days.
Please advice
@Rajkumar,
It is not necessary to remove them if they do not cause any trouble.
I have got fracture in my Medial Malleolus .
doctors have done srugey of 2 screws. the scerws are in slant position .
i have consulted to another doctor he has created a cofusion in my mind that scerw are never in slant position .i should have another surgey.
pls guide me to a point .
@Siddharth singhal,
Direction of screws can vary according to the direction of fracture. There is no fixed direction.
@Siddharth singhal,
There is no fixed direction for screw. It varies with the fracture pattern.
Thanks for your advice doc..
@Rajkumar,
Welcome.
While playing football, I injuired my left knee and after diganosis by the doctor and as per X-ray report it was found that a "Chip fracture seen at lateral condyle of upper end of the left tibia" , joint space though looks normal.
Now what kind of fracture is this????
And what is the right treatment for the same for speedy recovery and can I play football again or not???
@bhupesh kr. sharma,
Can I look at xray please?
my name is fatai, i had an accident, a proved frm d x-ray showed a slant fractured. With a traditional healing d man said is going to be o.kay. What can i do
@fatai,
The best advise for you is to see a qualified doctor.
I had malleolar screw fixation in my left tibia last year and the doctor had told me that the screws should be removed after a year. But now I am feeling very comfortable and very confident with that leg while walking and it never occurs to my mind that there are screws in my leg. Should I still get them removed ? Can't i just continue with the screws inside ? Further if the screws are removed won't it not lessen the strength of my ankle
Please advice.
@Rajkumar,
If you are okay with the implant, there is no need to remove.
Sorry Doctor.. I had asked the same question to you last year.
I forgot and asked you the same now.
thanks for your patience
I had Medial Malleolus fracture and operated with screws and plate. It passed almost a year and I have pain when I was walking. I can see my Tibia bone is outward (not much) and fuss limited to go upwards.
I also feel pain (upper part of Tibia,) I feel also my became (after the operation) flat foot.
Almost 70% of action can do (rotation, flex ion and extension) compare with other leg.
In x – Ray – bone healed
please advice what course the pain.
@Essa,
Cannot be said on this interface. Please seek an opinion from your treating doctor.
I had Fracture on Medial Malleolus. Now its 3 years since it was operated and I still have the screw inside. Yes, some times the nerves running over the screw, gives pains but not always. Can I get the screw removed now ?
Do I have to undergo some medical tests.
@Raj,
You can get it removed if it is troubling you.
My ankle was fractured and a screw was fixed in the molecule bone , now its three year completed, sometime I can feel a pain on the nervous which is near the screw head. Is it good to removed the screw now ?.
@selvan,
If it is troubling you, it can be removed.