What is Open Repair of Ankle Fractures?
There are three malleoli in the ankle, which are the prominences (or bumps) you see on the inside and outside of the ankle. The one on the inside is the medial malleolis which is part of the tibia or shin bone, while the one on the outside is the lateral malleolis and is part of the fibula or smaller bone in the leg. The posterior malleolis is a bump on the back of the tibia or shinbone but you cannot see it from the outside. Ankle fractures almost always involve the ankle joint. If the bone is out of place and heals without the joint surface being smooth, it can act like sandpaper and wear away the cartilage, thus leading to arthritis. That is why surgery is often done for ankle fractures. A thin plate and screws are often used on the lateral malleolis (fibula), and screws and pins are usually used to fix the medial malleolis. The posterior malleolis may or may not require a screw to fix it. After surgery you may be in a splint, a cast or a fracture boot. One of the other advantages o
