ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE
A cracked ankle/surgery
Medial malleolus ankle crack is the term used when the inner bone of the ankle is cracked.
The medial malleolus is the tibia bone anatomical part, which is the greater of the two lower leg bones.
The medial malleolus supports almost 90% the body’s weight; therefore, it is common that being highly disposed to cracks.
Medial malleolar cracks involve the ankle joint articular space (where the bones meet in the joint).
The majority of the ankle cracks are resulting of rotating forces.
Identifying if crack ankle surgery is required for medial malleolus ankle cracks is typically straightforward.
Medial Malleolar Cracks/The five types
It’s significant to comprehend the ankle anatomy in order to realize how medial malleolar cracks impact ankle ruptures.
First, the tibia bone and the fibula bone constitute the ankle.
The tibia bone constitutes the knee joint and the ankle joint.
The fibula initiates just below the knee and extends to the outer part of the ankle. (It provides the ankle joint outer support as well).
A strong ligamentous membrane supported by a strong ligamentous joining at the ankle level (called the ankle syndesmosis), maintains the two leg bones attached together.
Medial malleolus cracks are classified by the definite orientation of the crack line.
The five cracks types are: Chip cracks, Transverse cracks, Oblique cracks, Vertical cracks, Comminuted cracks.
Medial Malleolus/Chip Cracks
Chip cracks are the ligament break symptoms on the inner side of the ankle.
When a sudden force causes a bone break, the ligaments pull off straight where they attach to the bone.
The ligament can pull off a small piece of bone as the ligament is broken.
This chip crack, also called avulsion crack, is sometimes seen with simple ankle sprains.
The presence of an avulsion crack, may specify a more serious damage.
When chip cracks occur and the ligament is fully broken, the ankle can outspread openly.
Medial Malleolus/Transverse Cracks
The transverse crack happens in the same direction as the ankle joint. While these ruptures spread into the ankle joint, they do not spread into the weight-bearing share.
Medial Malleolus/Oblique Cracks
The oblique medial malleolar crack commonly happens along with a rotating damage that starts on the outside of the ankle.
It is related with an oblique fibular rupture and repeatedly arise at the ankle joint corner.
The presence of an oblique medial malleolar rupture regularly supposes an unsteady crack and ankle surgery may be recommended.
Medial Malleolus/Vertical Cracks
The vertical crack habitually arises when the strength is oriented more in the leg bone. These ruptures can spread into the ankle joint weight-bearing share.
Medial Malleolus/Comminuted Cracks
Comminuted cracks of the medial malleolus are mostly high-energy damages that break the bone into multiple pieces.
Ankle Surgery
Usually ankle cracks arise as rotating damages considering probable fibular crack.
Not all medial malleolar ruptures necessitate surgery. Sometimes the bone will heal with or without surgery and it classically takes six to eight weeks for a bone to heal.
The determination of any surgery is to steady the bone in its correct position while the bone is healing.
generally, medial malleolar cracks that necessitate surgery are those which are displaced, angular, or gape open.
If the cracked part of the ankle is unsteady it may also need surgery.
A significant consideration is that these cracks can result in arthritis developing because they spread into the ankle joint and cause a misalignment of the cartilage space.
Surgery is frequently done to minimize this risk.
Fixing An Ankle/Procedure
The medial malleolus crack surgical restoration is commonly linked to the orientation of the crack shape.
Broken bones may be fixed with cables, screws, screws with a plate, or any combination of these.
Vertically oriented cracks lend themselves to plate and screw fixation.
Oblique cracks are generally fixed with screws that hold the bones together.
Transverse cracks can be restored with screws and/or wire fixation practices.
Some other cracks are restored with arthroscopic-assisted ankle crack surgery.