Foot and Ankle Flashcards
What is an ankle fracture?
Break in the posterior, medial or lateral malleoli
Outline the anatomy of the ankle joint.
Mortise (Tibia, Medial mall and Lateral mall) with the talus
What is the syndesmosis?
The joint between tibia and fibula
What strengthens the syndesmosis?
- Anterior and posterior tibiofibial ligaments
- Interosseus membrane (sits in the middle)
Which populations are ankle #s common in?
- Young males
- Older females
How will an ankle # present?
- Pain
- Swelling
- Non-WB
What is the Ottawa rule?
XR the ankle IF:
- Pain in malleolar zone plus one of:
- Tenderness of distal, posterior tib or fib
- Inability to WB in the ED
- Visible deformity
Outline Weber’s.
CBA (Going down)
- C- above syndesmosis (needs fixaton)
- B- level of syndesmosis (may need fixation)
- A- below syndesmosis (shouldn’t need fixation)
How is Weber’s A managed?
Boot or below knee back slab
How is an undisplaced Weber’s B managed?
Below knee backslab
How is a displaced Weber’s B/Weber’s C managed?
Closed reduction and backslab once achieved
(Closed reduction = relocation e.g. in ED)
What if closed reduction fails?
ORIF
Why does a backslab need to have a hole down the middle?
To allow for swelling
When should the cast come off?
Around 3-4 weeks or so
What should be done after reduction?
Check bone alignment within a week