Frakturen des oberen Sprunggelenks

Malleolar fractures predominately result from a dislocation force at the ankle and are usually accompanied by injuries of the collateral ligaments and the tibiofibular syndesmosis. Forced abduction, adduction or external rotation of the foot against the tibia produce the typical sequence of bony and ligamentous injuries at the ankle joint. With the foot in supination at the time of injury, the deforming force acts first on the lateral malleolus, with the foot in pronation the force acts first on the medial malleolus. Fracture-dislocations must be reduced as an emergency under sufficient analgesia. Early stabilization is generally preferable for all displaced and unstable ankle fractures. With operative treatment, exact reconstruction of the articular surface, restoration of the length and rotational alignment of the fibula and fixation of osseous or ligamentous syndesmotic injuries are important prognostic factors. Non-operative, functional treatment leads to good long-term results in isolated, non-displaced fractures of the medial or lateral malleolus provided that instability of the ankle mortise has been definitely ruled out. Treatment of pediatric and adolescent malleolar fractures follows the same principles and has to respect the growth plate which ossifies over an 18 month period. Special attention has to be paid to hereditary or acquired neuropathy with dramatically increased healing times and complication rates.