What is the anatomy of an Ankle Fracture?
The ankle is a complex joint that forms where three bones come together. The bones of the lower leg, the tibia and the fibula, are above the joint, and the talus is below the joint. When a doctor talks about an “Ankle Fracture”, he or she is usually talking about a broken bone of the tibia or fibula. The tibia, also called the shin bone, is the larger, weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. Of the weight transferred through the leg, about 90% is carried by the tibia. The fibula is the smaller bone on the outside of the leg. It only carries about 10% of your body weight. Both the tibia and the fibula wrap around the talus to form the ankle joint. The bony prominences at the ankle are called the medial malleolus (the end of the tibia) and the lateral malleolus (the end of the fibula). The ends of these bones form a cup for the talus to sit within. Fractures can occur in any of these above described areas, and after you’ve been examined by your doctor, he most likely will prescribe some ki
