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Foot & Ankle
intermediate
X-Type

Ankle Fracture and Syndesmosis Injury

Ankle Trauma

A 35-year-old woman presents after twisting her ankle during a fall. She has significant lateral swelling and cannot bear weight. Radiographs show a spiral fibular fracture at the level of the syndesmosis with medial clear space widening of 6mm. External rotation stress radiographs confirm syndesmotic instability with tibiofibular clear space of 8mm. The deltoid ligament is presumed incompetent. Regarding ankle fractures and syndesmosis injuries:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

The Weber classification describes fibular fracture level relative to the syndesmosis: Type A (below...

B

Syndesmosis anatomy includes the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), posterior inferior...

C

Weber A fractures always require syndesmotic fixation; Weber C fractures have intact syndesmosis; th...

D

Medial side injury is critical for ankle stability: medial malleolar fracture or deltoid ligament ru...

E

Syndesmotic fixation: traditionally with one or two cortical screws (3.5mm or 4.5mm) placed 2-4cm ab...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option