Alabama Injury Lawyers at McAleer Law

About Ankle Fractures- Lateral Malleolus

The lawyers at McAleer Law have helped numerous individuals who have suffered ankle injuries caused by others.  An Alabama personal injury lawyer can assist you in determining if you have a viable personal injury claim. 

Fractures of the ankle joint can occur when one steps into a hole and twists his or her foot and ankle or in high impact car and truck collisions.  Injuries to the soft tissue of the ankle are common when there is a fracture.  Ankle fractures and sprains are extremely common.  Fracture of the fibula at the ankle is the most common. The anatomy and biophysics of the ankle joint must allow for a relatively wide range of motion; unfortunately, this predisposes the ankle joint to injury, especially of the lateral aspect of the joint. The ankle joint proper consists of the distal ends of the two leg bones (the tibia and the fibula) and the talus bone of the ankle.  In practice, the calcaneus (heel bone) is also included since numerous strong ligaments that reinforce the joint attach to it. The ankle is encased in a fibrous capsule that is lined by a membrane that secretes the lubricating synovial fluid. Much of the strength of the ankle joint comes from the large tendons that cross the joint on all sides.

Often, fractures occur when the distal end of the fibula, or lateral malleolus, is broken away from the rest of the bone.  This is called an avulsion of the bone and can happen to either of the leg bones at the ankle.  With these forces, the upper end of the ligaments can be pulled away with bone fragment leading to soft tissue injury.

Although an avulsion fracture can occur in healthy bone, osteoporotic bone is much more likely to fracture.  Osteoporosis is a condition of the elderly, especially post-menopausal women, in which the bone mass is severely decreased, rendering the bones brittle and easily fractured. Osteoporosis is implicated in 50% of the fractures incurred by women over 50 years of age. 

The lawyers at McAleer Law are here to answer your questions if you have suffered from an ankle fracture caused by the carelessness of another. Contact an Alabama Personal Injury Attorney at our firm today for legal guidance - 251-341-0116.