Double fibular fracture: An innovative use for elastic stable intramedullary nailing of a distal and proximal fibular fracture

Abstract

Ankle fractures can present in a number of pre-defined patterns. However, it is very rare to see the fibula fractured twice from one traumatic injury. This is a case of a 54-year-old female that sustained a unique low-energy spiral injury of a dislocated trimalleolar ankle fracture with a two-part fibular fracture. Since the patient suffered from two fibula fractures communicating with the ankle joint and severe hemorrhagic fracture blisters, an emerging technique involving the percutaneous placement of an elastic stable intramedullary nail was utilized to reduce and fixate both fractures. The case demonstrates percutaneous fixation in a patient experiencing significant soft tissue injury and subsequently utilizing a pediatric flexible femoral nail to stabilize two distinct fibular fractures.