Adolescent ankle fractures are fractures about the mortise of the ankle that frequently involve the physis of the tibia, fibula, or both. Most fractures of the ankle in adolescents are caused by indirect violence, in which a fixed foot is forced into different position. Ankle fractures account for roughly 5 percent of pediatric fractures, and 15 percent of physeal injuries. The two major goals in the management of ankle fractures in the pediatric patient are to achieve anatomic reduction and to avoid physeal damage. Management decisions are based on restoration of acceptable alignment as well as the particular injury?s predilection toward physeal arrest.
This article addresses management options and principles for specific ankle fractures in adolescents, including Salter-Harris fractures, fractures of Tillaux, triplane fractures, isolated fibula fractures, and tibia and fibula fractures.