What are Bimalleolar and Trimalleolar Fractures
There are numerous types of ankle fractures that can occur, but two of the more serious types are bimalleolar and trimalleolar fractures. In general, the more bones that are broken, the more unstable the ankle joint becomes, and ligaments can become damaged, as well.
The most common causes of ankle fractures include falling, tripping, twisting or rolling the ankle, or impact during a car accident. In serious accidents, ankle fractures involving all three ankle bones and ankle joints can be compromised. Symptoms typically include swelling, bruising, severe, instant pain and tenderness, and deformity, especially if ankle joint dislocation is involved.
In addition to relying on x-rays to show whether the bone is broken, there is any displacement, how many broken bones there are, and whether there has been damage to any additional areas such as the leg and foot, stress x-rays are typically used to determine whether there are any signs of ankle joint instability, which can be key to diagnosing the fracture, which depends upon which bones have been broken. Additional scans, such as CT and/or MRI scans, can help further evaluate any injury, particularly when it comes to a fracture which extends into the ankle joint and/or any ankle ligaments that may be damaged.
Bimalleolar Ankle Fractures
Bimalleolar ankle fractures occur when both the tibia and fibular are broken, and involve injuries to the inner (medial malleolus) and outer (lateral malleolus) sides of the ankle, and typically require surgery, as both the ankle joint becomes unstable and is otherwise susceptible to ankle arthritis, if left untreated.
Bimalleloar Equivalent Ankle Fractures
A bimalleolar equivalent fracture occurs when there is a ligament injury on the inner side of the ankle and a fracture of the lateral malleolus, causing the ankle joint to become unstable, and requiring surgical treatment.
Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures
A trimalleolar ankle fracture also involves injury to the inner and outer sides of the ankle, as well as a bone injury at the posterior malleolus fracture (back of the tibia, near the ankle joint). If this additional injury causes instability of the ankle joint, it too needs to be addressed during surgery.
Treatment
While treatment of all complex ankle fractures almost always requires surgery, sometimes surgery may be delayed if there is significant ankle swelling, which can increase the risk of infection and interfere with healing.
The surgical procedure typically performed seeks to repair the bones in order to restore ankle joint stability. This is typically done with screws and metal plates, where proper alignment is key in order to prevent ankle arthritis, which can still occur, even with the appropriate medical care and rehabilitation.
Ankle Fracture Attorneys
Ankle fractures like these can seriously interfere with our jobs, activities, and our everyday lives. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help—contact our law offices today to schedule a free consultation and case review.
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If you have suffered from a bimalleolar or a trimalleolar fracture, or any other injury due to someone else’s carelessness or actions, we are just a phone call away. Contact our law offices to for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
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Our personal injury trial lawyers handle all types of accident claims including car accidents, slip and fall accidents or work accidents resulting in a broken ankle or Bimalleolar/Trimalleolar Fracture, throughout all of Massachusetts including, but not limited to, those in the following counties, cities and towns: Plymouth County including Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.
