Posterior Malleolar Fractures: Changing Concepts and Recent Developments

Abstract

Injuries to the posterior malleolus are of prognostic relevance in ankle fracture-dislocations. The three-dimensional outline of the fragments as reflected by computed tomography classification, involvement of the fibular notch, and the presence of intercalary fragments seem to be of greater therapeutic relevance than the size of the fragment and amount of the articular surface involved. Operative treatment aims at reconstruction of the posterior tibial plafond, the fibular notch, and the integrity of the posterior inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis. Direct open reduction and fixation of posterior malleolus fragments via posterior approaches is biomechanically more stable than indirect reduction and anteroposterior screw fixation.

Keywords: Ankle fractures; Classification; Posterior approaches; Posterior malleolus; Trimalleolar fractures.