Ankle Pathology and General Trauma Complications

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers general trauma complications, the biomechanics of the ankle ring, specific sprain and fracture sequences like Pott's fracture, and common causes of ankle and heel pain.

Delayed union

A complication of general trauma caused by biological factors (e.g., poor blood supply), biomechanical factors (e.g., imperfect splintage), or patient factors.

Non-union

The failure to produce a union of bone ends due to mobility at the fracture site, resulting in pain on weight bearing evident on a radiograph.

Mal-union

A healing deformity characterized by angulations, rotation, and shortening of the bone.

Growth retardation

A trauma complication occurring in children due to damage to the epiphyseal plate.

Ankle Ring

The arrangement of ankle bones and ligaments visualized in the coronal plane, consisting of the articular surfaces of the tibia and fibula, subtalar joint, and medial and lateral ligaments.

Single break (Ankle Ring)

A break in the ankle ring that has minimal impact on stability and is considered stable.

Double break (Ankle Ring)

A situation where the ankle ring breaks in two places, resulting in an unstable injury.

Anterior Talo-fibular sprain

An inversion sprain involving injury to the anterolateral capsule, ATFL, and anterior tibiofibular ligament, representing approximately $40\%$ of ankle sprains.

Pronation-abduction (Eversion Fracture sequence)

A sequence of injury involving disruption of the deltoid ligament or transverse fracture of the medial malleolus, followed by a posterior malleolus fracture, and finally an oblique fracture of the fibula above the level of the joint.

Pronation-external rotation (Eversion Fracture sequence)

A sequence involving deltoid rupture or MM fracture, involvement of the AITFL with interosseous membrane widening, spiral/oblique fibula fracture, and involvement of the PITFL or posterior malleolus.

Pott’s fracture

A fracture resulting from combined abduction external rotation from an eversion force, where one or both malleoli are fractured.

Achilles Tendonitis

Condition often resulting from improper exercise form or lack of warm-up, most common in runners in their $30s$ and $40s$, and exacerbated by heel cord contracture.

Plantar fasciitis

Medial heel pain characterized by severe pain in the morning or after rest that improves with movement but aggravates with prolonged weight bearing.

Medial Heel Pain Tenderness

Point of maximal tenderness typically located at the anteromedial aspect of the calcaneus, produced with dorsiflexion of the toes (MTPs).