Syndesmotic Injury Case Study

Mechanism of injury When forces disrupt the congruency of the ankle mortise, the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries occurs. Syndesmotic injury can occur to any or all of the following structures: posterior tibiofibular ligament, anterior tibiofibular ligament, including its superficial and deep components (transverse ligament), interosseous membrane and interosseous ligament. (2) The distal tibiofibular ligaments injuries are often incomplete and associated with other injuries. Depending on the forces involved and mechanisms, the anterior tibiofibular ligament can become sprained or even avulsed with a small bone fragment from the fibula or tibia. Continued application of forces to the ankle, specially

Although many mechanisms for syndesmotic injury have been reported, the most common mechanisms of injuries are external rotation of the foot and forced dorsiflexion of the ankle with axial loading. Other causes of syndesmosis injuries include inversion, eversion, plantar flexion, internal rotation and pronation.

The posterior lip of the tibia usually fractured, the fragment may be large or small. Also included is an avulsion of the medial malleolus or rupture of the deltoid ligament the Weber type C is characterized by a fibular fracture that is entirely above the level of the tibial plafond. A large or small posterior lip fracture often accompanies this injury, as does medial malleolar avulsion or deltoid ligament ruptured. (19) The Lauge Hansen classification was developed to describe cadaver fracture patterns. The first part of the terminology refers to the foot position when the forces start, and the second refers to the major force that is transmitted to the foot.