Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma

Original Articles

Relationship of lateral malleolar fracture patterns to posterior malleolar fracture morphology in supination-external rotation ankle fractures in Korea: a retrospective cohort stduy: Jong-Eun Kim, Chan-Jin Park, Jun-Young Lee, Keun-Bae Lee, Gun-Woo Lee; J Musculoskelet Trauma 2025;38(4):212-220. Published online October 24, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jmt.2025.00234

Abstract PDF: Background
Posterior malleolar fractures frequently accompany rotational ankle fractures. However, the morphological relationship between lateral and posterior malleolar fractures in supination-external rotation (SER) ankle fractures remains unclear. This study aimed to classify lateral malleolar fracture patterns in SER type 3 and 4 ankle fractures and investigated their associations with posterior malleolar fracture morphology.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 132 patients with SER type 3 or 4 ankle fractures and concurrent posterior malleolar fractures between January 2016 and December 2021. Lateral malleolar fractures were categorized as fibular fractures extending <4.5 cm proximal to the ankle joint (102 ankles) or fibular fractures extending ≥4.5 cm proximal to the ankle joint (30 ankles) based on posterior cortex height measured using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). Posterior malleolar fracture morphology was assessed using the Haraguchi and Bartonicek classifications. Quantitative parameters—including fracture height, angle, and articular involvement—were analyzed using 3D-CT imaging.
Results
Fibular fractures extending ≥4.5 cm proximal to the ankle joint were associated with a significantly higher frequency of Haraguchi type II and Bartonicek types 3 and 4 posterior malleolar fractures. This group also exhibited greater articular involvement (19.2% vs. 12.0%) and posterior cortical height (55.4 mm vs. 24.8 mm) compared to the <4.5 cm group (all P<0.001).
Conclusions
In SER type 3 and 4 ankle fractures, a fibular fracture extending ≥4.5 cm proximal to the ankle joint may be associated with posterior malleolar fractures exhibiting greater articular involvement and medial extension. Preoperative evaluation of the lateral malleolar fracture pattern may provide useful insights into posterior malleolar morphology and assist in surgical planning. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to inherent study limitations. Level of evidence: IV

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Comparison of the Size of the Posterior Malleolar Fragment in Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures Measured Using Lateral Plain Radiography and Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography: Gun-Woo Lee, Dong-Min Jung, Woo Kyoung Kwak, Keun-Bae Lee; J Korean Fract Soc 2022;35(3):91-96. Published online July 31, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2022.35.3.91

Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of the size of the posterior malleolar fragment measured using lateral plain radiography and three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) in patients with ankle trimalleolar fractures.
Materials and Methods
This study enrolled 80 patients (80 ankles) with ankle trimalleolar fractures and analyzed the size of the posterior malleolar fragments using plain radiography and 3D-CT. The articular involvement of the posterior malleolar fragments was measured as a percentage of the articular surface in the sagittal length of the tibial plafond using lateral plain radiography, and the articular surface area was directly measured using 3D-CT. In addition, we classified the patients into three groups based on the morphology of the posterior malleolar fracture, according to the Haraguchi classification method, and evaluated and compared the accuracy of the size of the posterior malleolar fragments.
Results
The mean articular involvement of the posterior malleolar fragments on plain radiography was 27.6% (range, 6.0%-53.1%), which was significantly higher than the mean of 21.9% (range, 4.7%-47.1%) measured using 3D-CT (p=0.004). In the analysis, according to the fracture morphology, the mean difference between the two methods was the largest for type I fractures at 9.1% (range, 1.8%-19.5%) and the smallest for type II fractures at 1.1% (range, –7.7% to 8.8%).
Conclusion
The articular involvement of posterior malleolar fragments measured using plain radiography showed low accuracy and significantly higher values than the actual articular involvement. Therefore, careful evaluation using 3D-CT is crucial for accurate analysis and optimal treatment in patients with ankle trimalleolar fractures.

Citations

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Relationship of lateral malleolar fracture patterns to posterior malleolar fracture morphology in supination-external rotation ankle fractures in Korea: a retrospective cohort stduy
Jong-Eun Kim, Chan-Jin Park, Jun-Young Lee, Keun-Bae Lee, Gun-Woo Lee
Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma.2025; 38(4): 212. CrossRef

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Comparison between X-ray and Three Dimensional Computed Tomography in Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures: Sang Jun Song, Hyung Ku Yoon, Dong Eun Shin, Soo Hong Han, Jae Hwa Kim, Hyung Kun Park, Yong Sub Han; J Korean Fract Soc 2005;18(2):160-164. Published online April 30, 2005; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2005.18.2.160

Abstract PDF

PURPOSE
To evaluate the accuracy of X-ray evaluation in classification, displacement and size of posterior malleolar fragment, comparing with three dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) in trimallelar ankle fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
20 cases of trimalleolar ankle fractures evaluated with preoperative 3D CT, and followed up periods were at least 2 years. All cases were classified according to the Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen classification. Displacement and size of posterior malleolar fragment were measured using PACS. The reliability between simple X-ray and 3D CT was evaluated in the Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen classification (kappa analysis). The correlation between simple X-ray and 3D CT was evaluated in displacement and size of posterior malleolar fragment (correlation analysis).
RESULTS
Degree of agreement of Danis-Weber classification in simple X-ray and 3D CT was 0.700 kappa value, and that of Lauge-Hansen was 0.605 kappa value. Measurement of simple X-ray and 3D CT about displaced status of posterior malleolar fragment showed statistically significant positive linear correlation (p= 0.000), but correlation of measurement of size in simple X-ray and CT was not statistically significant (p=0.102).
CONCLUSION
CT or operative field will be more accurate than simple X-ray to select the method of treatment and operation, especially when the displacement and size of posterior malleolar fragment are important to decide.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Comparison of the Size of the Posterior Malleolar Fragment in Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures Measured Using Lateral Plain Radiography and Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography
Gun-Woo Lee, Dong-Min Jung, Woo Kyoung Kwak, Keun-Bae Lee
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2022; 35(3): 91. CrossRef

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