BIMALLEOLAR ANKLE FRACTURE: A SIMPLE FRACTURE?

To evaluate the frequency of deltoid ligament injury in bimalleolar supination-external rotation type fractures and whether there is a correlation between the size of the fractured medial malleolus and deltoid ligament injury Twenty six consecutive patients underwent magnetic resonance exams after clinical and radiographic diagnosis of bimalleolar supination-external rotation type ankle fractures Thirteen patients (50%) presented deltoid ligament injury associated to bimalleolar ankle fracture. Partial injury was present in seven (26.9%) patients and total injury in six (23.1%). Regarding medial fragment size, the average was 2.88 cm in the absence of deltoid ligament injury. Partial injuries presented 1.93 cm and total 2.1 cm on average Deltoid ligament injury was present in 50% of bimalleolar ankle fractures. Smaller medial malleolus fragments, especially concerning the anterior colliculus, presented greater association with partial deltoid ligament injuries.