How do you describe an ankle X-ray?

Ankle radiographs are frequently performed in emergency departments, usually, after trauma, the radiographic series is comprised of three views: an anteroposterior, mortise, and a lateral. They may be performed to assess degenerative or inflammatory arthritis as well as to look for the sequela of local infection.

What is widening of the ankle mortise?

The mortise joint space should uniformly be < 4mm and the distal tibio-fibular joint should be < 5.5mm. Disruption or widening of the normal anatomy is evidence of an unstable injury pattern, and widening of the mortise at the medial malleolus in particular suggests injury to the deltoid ligament.

How do you XRAY an ankle?

An x-ray of the ankle will have three views – AP, mortise, and lateral….In the AP view:

1. The distal fibula should be slightly superimposed on the tibia.
2. The lateral and medial malleoli should be in profile.
3. The tibiotalar space should be open (although the full mortise isn’t visible)

How long does a broken ankle take to heal?

It takes at least 6 weeks for the broken bones to heal. It may take longer for the involved ligaments and tendons to heal. As mentioned above, your doctor will most likely monitor the bone healing with repeated x-rays.

How bad is a fractured ankle?

If just one bone is broken, you may not realize how bad the injury is. But if multiple bones break at once, you will lose stability in your ankle and may not be able to walk. An ankle fracture can also lead to ligament damage.

Can you walk on a fractured ankle?

Many people assume that if you can put weight on the ankle then it isn’t broken, however, it is possible to walk on a broken ankle, particularly with a less severe fracture. If you’re concerned your ankle may be broken, we recommend contacting your doctor, who can conduct an examination or order and xray if necessary.

What does ankle mortise mean?

When the foot is plantar flexed, the ankle joint also allows some movements of side to side gliding, rotation, adduction, and abduction. The bony arch formed by the tibial plafond and the two malleoli is referred to as the ankle “mortise” (or talar mortise). The mortise is a rectangular socket.

Does a broken ankle hurt all the time?

A broken ankle may be more painful. Right after the injury, you may or may not be able to walk or place weight on the ankle. It depends on the type and cause of the fracture (motor vehicle accident versus a fall, for example). You may or may not have severe bruising and swelling.

Will walking on a fractured ankle make it worse?

A broken ankle, also known as an ankle fracture, is one of the most common lower leg injuries. It can be very painful and needs to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible because it may need treatment to heal properly. Walking on a broken ankle can make the injury worse so if in doubt, get it checked out.

How does a mortise X-ray show an ankle fracture?

This mortise radiograph shows a bimalleolar fracture of the right ankle. There is a comminuted fracture of the distal fibula above the level of the syndesmosis (Weber C) with valgus angulation of the distal fragment. There is also a simple transverse fracture of the right medial malleolus. The ankle joint is subluxed.

What should I look for in an ankle X-ray?

Interpreting an ankle X-ray. Use a methodical approach such as ABCs to look at a radiograph. Adequacy. Ideally, you should be able to see at least the distal third of the tibia and fibula and the talus on the mortise view and in addition to those, you should be able to see the calcaneum and the base of the 5 th metatarsal on the lateral view.

Do you need a radiograph for an ankle fracture?

Patients without criteria for imaging by the Ottawa Ankle Rule are highly unlikely to have a clinically significant fracture and do not need plain radiographs. Application of the Ottawa Ankle Rule can reduce the number of unnecessary radiographs by as much as 25-30%, improving patient flow in the ED. Please fill out required fields.

Can a proximal fibular fracture be seen on a radiography?

In some fractures there may even be a proximal fibular fracture – which is not visible on the ankle radiographs – in combination with ligamentous ruptures at the level of the ankle. It is important to realize that in these cases the radiographs of the ankle may be normal, while there still is an unstable ankle injury.