Tibia, fibula and tarsus showing changes following fracture involving the ankle joint
Object numberGC.6077
TitleTibia, fibula and tarsus showing changes following fracture involving the ankle joint
DescriptionTibia and fibula, major portions of a right, showing changes following fracture involving the ankle joint.
From a male aged 63 years who fell from a lorry and the wheel passed over his right ankle. The proximal fragment of the tibia projected through the skin and the fracture involved the ankle joint. On the day following the accident several pieces of loose bone were removed, the fracture was adjusted and an attempt was made to retain the fragments in apposition by a metal plate which was afterwards removed. He was in hospital during thirty nine days and on discharge the ankle was fixed and there was much thickening of the bone and many cicatrices and a sinus was still present in front and another behind the lateral malleolus. Four months later he was readmitted, the foot was useless and as he was suffering considerable pain amputation was performed through the proximal third of the leg.
The fracture has passed with slight obliquity through the tibia and fibula at the junction of the diaphyses with the distal epiphyses. The distal fragments have been slightly displaced anteriorly and laterally. A subacute septic arthritis of the ankle joint has produced osseous ankylosis of all its articular surfaces. At the distal ends of the proximal fragments of the tibia and fibula the interosseous space is increased in width and a tunnel passing anteroposteriorly just distal to the tibiofibular syndesmosis indicates the site of the ultimate sinus.
Object nameJOINT, ankle
Object categoryAnatomical, specimen
Dimensions
- Height: 29.2 cm
Diameter: 12.3 cm