Ankle Fracture

The fibula only bears 15% of the body weight. Resultingly, when patients fracture the fibula often times they can still bear weight/ambulate on the leg, although very painful. Deviation of the fibula can cause biomechanical changes and misalignments which result in ankle instability and arthritis down the road. This injury is 3 days out and the displacement of the fracture now dictates open reduction, AKA, surgery. If proper medical consult was obtained immediately after the injury and non-weightbearing was initiated immediately it is possible surgery may have been avoided, depending on the fracture gap. Lesson to be learned……if/when you have a substantial injury to the foot/ankle, even if you can still ambulate and weight bear, get it checked out.