Which fracture pattern is associated with proximal fibula fractures during ankle injuries and carries a risk of syndesmotic injury?

Which fracture pattern is associated with proximal fibula fractures during ankle injuries and carries a risk of syndesmotic injury?

• A. Pilon fracture
• B. Maisonneuve fracture (proximal fibula fracture with syndesmotic injury)
• C. Jones fracture
• D. Calcaneal fracture

Answer: (B)

This pattern is about how an external-rotation ankle injury can fracture the proximal fibula while also tearing the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. That combination is called a Maisonneuve fracture. The force from the ankle travels up the interosseous membrane, so you get a spiral break high in the fibula and, at the same time, instability of the syndesmosis at the ankle. Because the syndesmosis stabilizes the ankle mortise, its injury risks instability if not recognized and treated, even if the visible ankle fracture isn’t obvious at first. So the best answer is the pattern that links a proximal fibula fracture with syndesmotic injury. The other options describe fractures at different bones or locations that don’t involve this proximal fibula–syndesmosis pattern.

This pattern is about how an external-rotation ankle injury can fracture the proximal fibula while also tearing the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. That combination is called a Maisonneuve fracture. The force from the ankle travels up the interosseous membrane, so you get a spiral break high in the fibula and, at the same time, instability of the syndesmosis at the ankle. Because the syndesmosis stabilizes the ankle mortise, its injury risks instability if not recognized and treated, even if the visible ankle fracture isn’t obvious at first.

So the best answer is the pattern that links a proximal fibula fracture with syndesmotic injury. The other options describe fractures at different bones or locations that don’t involve this proximal fibula–syndesmosis pattern.