How is the Fibula Fractured?
The most common means of sustaining a fibula fracture is via an inversion ankle sprain. As the ankle rolls inward, stress is placed on the laterally located fibula. The fracture itself can occur from the talus running into the bottom aspect of the fibula. Another type of ankle fracture, called an avulsion fracture, occurs when the stretched lateral ligaments literally pull a piece of the fibula off the distal end. Of course there are other ways of fracturing the fibula including trauma that allows the bones to twist, or be compressed. This type of injury generally results in fracture of both the tibia and fibula with the fracture sites being higher up from the ankle joint itself. Spiral fractures are common with this twisting mechanism with the fracture site being longer and more vertical.
