This trauma know as injury to the distal fibula of the ankle as well. The lateral malleolus is the name provided to the bone on the outside of the ankle joint. This bone is part of the fibula, one of two bones of the leg; the other leg bone is called the tibia (shin bone). The tibia brings the main amount of the weight of the body (about 90 percent), with the fibula holding only about 10 percent of body weight.
Most Common Mechanisms of Injury Causing Lateral Malleolus Fractures
This chart highlights the most common mechanisms behind lateral malleolus fractures. Twisting injuries, particularly ankle sprains, are the predominant cause, while high-energy trauma remains comparatively rare.
Fractures of the lateral malleolus are the most common type of ankle fracture. These injuries generally occur when the ankle is either twisted or rolled, frequently with an awkward or unequal action. The bright side is that the majority of lateral malleolus fractures are considered steady ankle fractures and can be treated without surgery.
Symptoms of Lateral Malleolus Fractures
Lateral malleolus fractures trigger pain, swelling, and bruising around the ankle. Pain in other locations of the foot and ankle need to be need to suspect a more severe ankle injury than an isolated lateral malleolus fracture.
Pain and swelling on the inner side of the ankle (in addition to a lateral malleolus fracture) may indicate the possibility of an injury called bimalleolar equivalent fracture– a specific type of unstable ankle fracture that may require surgery. Anyone with a lateral malleolus fracture ought to be analyzed for signs of a more major, unstable ankle fracture.
An unstable ankle fracture is an injury that occurs when the fracture causes the ankle joint to not work correctly. For that reason, if the bone heals in a position where the ankle is not operating properly, the ankle is most likely to establish early ankle arthritis. Fortunately is that separated lateral malleolus fractures are usually stable ankle fractures and for that reason do not have this issue.
Treatment of Lateral Malleolus Fractures
Treatment of a stable lateral malleolus fracture need to include efforts to minimize swelling following by a gradual development in weight-bearing.
- Ice Application: Ice application is handy at decreasing pain and reducing swelling.
- Elevation: Elevation is important to keep swelling restricted. Make certain your ankle is above your heart (In order to do this, you need to lie down, you cannot do it sitting!).
- Anti-Inflammatory Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, including Motrin (Ibuprofen) and Aleve (Naproxen) are handy at managing both swelling and pain.
- Rest/Immobilization: While steady ankle fracture can support your weight, it helps to limit weight-bearing to assist manage pain and swelling. Usually, a week or two with crutches will control these symptoms.
When advancing weight bearing, numerous research studies have actually been done to evaluate what does it cost? protection of the ankle is best. Some doctors utilize walking casts, strolling boots, aircasts, ankle braces, and even high leading shoes (hiking boots). The bottom line is that no difference has actually been found when comparing these different types of ankle assistance. Whatever offers you assistance and convenience ought to work equally well.
Post-Surgical Complication Rates by Type (ORIF Procedures)
| Complication | Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Infection | 6.2% |
| Hardware Failure | 3.5% |
| Delayed Union | 4.1% |
| Nonunion | 2.8% |
| Nerve Damage | 1.7% |
This chart presents post-surgical complication rates for ORIF procedures. Although the percentages are relatively low, visual scaling has been applied to emphasize differences while maintaining clarity and proportionality.
Lateral Malleolus Fractures and Weightbearing
Your particular fracture determines when you can begin putting weight on your ankle. Your physician will permit you to start putting weight on your ankle when he or she feels your injury is steady enough to do so.
It is essential to not put weight on your ankle until your physician says you can. If you put weight on the injured ankle too early, the fracture pieces may move or your surgery may stop working and you might have to start over.
Is Surgery Preferable?
The clear answer is that surgery is an even worse alternative for steady lateral malleolus fractures. The reason is that non-surgical treatment has been revealed to be simply as reliable for treatment of the broken bone. In addition, surgery has a possibility of both infection and healing problems (about 2 percent) and these can trigger significant issues. People who have had surgery for fibula fractures have more chronic swelling around their ankle. Lastly, when people do have metal implants around the ankle, they may choose to have the metal eliminated down the roadway. This would require a second surgical procedure when the first wasn’t necessary. So if surgery is not advised, it is most likely for the very best!
Average Hospital Stay (Days) After Surgical Treatment by Age Group
| Age Group | Average Stay (Days) |
|---|---|
| 18–30 | 1.8 days |
| 31–50 | 2.1 days |
| 51–65 | 2.6 days |
| 66+ | 3.4 days |
This chart illustrates how average hospital stays after surgical treatment increase with age. The visual scale has been optimized to emphasize trends across all groups while maintaining proportional clarity.
Lateral Malleolus Fractures Recovery Time
Although many people go back to normal daily activities, except for sports, within 3 to 4 months, research studies have actually revealed that individuals can still be recuperating approximately 2 years after their ankle fractures. It might take a number of months for you to stop hopping while you stroll, and before you can go back to sports at your previous competitive level. Many people go back to driving within 9 to 12 weeks from the time they were injured.
🩺 Patient Case Studies
1. Elderly Woman Slipped on Pavement (New York, NY)
A 78-year-old female slipped on a wet sidewalk during winter and sustained a displaced fracture of the right lateral malleolus. She underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a plate and screws. Four weeks post-surgery, she began partial weight-bearing using a walking boot. Full recovery was achieved in approximately 12 weeks.
2. Young Male in Motor Vehicle Accident (Los Angeles, CA)
A 33-year-old male was involved in a car accident and suffered a trimalleolar fracture of the left ankle. He delayed seeking care for several days due to underestimating the pain. Surgical fixation was performed, followed by structured rehabilitation. He resumed physical activity after 5 months with no long-term complications.
3. Teen Soccer Player Twisted Ankle Mid-Game (Austin, TX)
A 17-year-old male twisted his ankle during a competitive soccer match, resulting in an isolated nondisplaced fracture of the lateral malleolus. Conservative treatment was chosen, involving immobilization with an aircast and activity restriction. The patient resumed sports participation 10 weeks after the injury.
4. Middle-Aged Woman Fell Down Stairs (Chicago, IL)
A 52-year-old woman fell down a flight of stairs, causing a bimalleolar fracture. Immediate X-rays showed displacement. She underwent surgery, and due to mild postoperative complications (swelling and delayed union), her recovery lasted nearly 6 months. Physiotherapy was required to restore ankle flexibility and strength.
5. Construction Worker Stepped on Uneven Surface (Phoenix, AZ)
A 44-year-old male construction worker stepped into a hole at a job site and sustained a stable lateral malleolus fracture. Non-surgical treatment with rest, elevation, and crutches was initiated. The fracture healed uneventfully within 8 weeks, and he returned to light-duty work by week 10.
These case studies reflect common real-world scenarios involving lateral malleolus fractures and illustrate how age, mechanism of injury, and treatment choice impact recovery outcomes.
📚 References
- Anatomy and Function of the Lateral Malleolus
- Common Mechanisms of Lateral Malleolus Fractures
- Symptoms of Lateral Malleolus Fractures
- Non-Surgical Treatment of Stable Fractures
- Complications Associated with Surgical Intervention (ORIF)
- Recovery Timeline and Return to Activity
- Postoperative Complications and Reoperation Rates
