Pilon Fracture: Causes, diagnosis, treatment

Pilon fracture is a fracture of the lower part of the bone of the tibia that forms of the ankle joint by articulating with the slope. This fracture was described by Destot in 1911. This fracture occurs when the bone of slope bone tibia with a force directed upward.

This injury is presented in vehicle accidents, motor after the fall on your feet in height.

Before reading further it would firstly whether relevant ankle anatomy. (ignore this as it you have already read the page)

The symptoms are similar to other ankle fractures, except that there is more

painswellingblister formationreddish bluish discoloration due to leakage of blood in the tissueschances of skin breakdown and infection

This fracture is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment including

alignment and splintageelevation of the extremityuse of ice and anti-inflammatory drugs

These measures contribute to the reduction of swelling and pain and minimize the risk of rupture of the skin.

Theclassification of these fractures is in three types

Type 1 fractures are injuries generally low energy in which the fracture fragments are almost aligned and joint surface is congruousType 2 fractures are energy generally moderate injuries in which the joint surface is no longer congruousType 3 fractures are injuries generally high energy which the joint surface is no longer consistent and fracture can further extend to the top

The diagnosis is confirmed by x-ray of the ankle joint.

CT scan may be required for a better understanding of the trend of the fracture.

Treatment of fracture pilon depends on

the age and the functional level of the patientpresence of osteoporosisstatus of the skin and tissues

Treatment may be operational or non-cooperative.

Non-operative treatment includes

application of plaster is used in the fractures of type 1 and type 2 fracture if manipulation of fracture gives a mixed surfacetraction (continuous force applied along the bone) harmony is used in patients with the vitality of the skin is doubtful and are unfit for surgery

Treatmentdevice includes

plate and screw fixation that is made in fractures in type 2 and 3 in which the condition of the skin is the binding of goodexternal with a framework applied to the os which is in fractures in type 2 and 3 in which the condition of the skin is not good; using plates and screws in such a condition greatly increases the chance of infectionlocking, plate fixation is a new method which is used in the fractures that occur in osteoporotic bone

It is an x-ray of a 26-year-old man who had come with a 1 type pilon fracture, he suffered after his bike slipped. The rupture was re-aligned with manipulation and stabilized with a plaster.

The top photo shows the fracture immediately after the injury. The environment is a picture of a screen of x-ray during handling, which shows the acceptable realignment of fracture.
The third photo is x radius that has been taken 10 days later in a cast and shows continuous satisfactory alignment of the fracture. Hence this patient was managed effectively in a whole leg in plaster.

Complications include

infectionmal-union or the union of fracture in an unacceptable position-union is the failure of the unitearthritis of ankle fracture

How to prevent complications?

Complications can be prevented by the alignment and fixation of the fracture as soon as possible. There is a delay of a few hours to arrive at the hospital then the following steps can be taken.

the fracture should be splintedlimb should be elevated by placing pillows of 2-3 under the foot and legice must be used intermittently; never use ice directly on the skin, place it in a plastic bag

How long will take to recover completely after the pilon fracture?

In the absence of complications the divide unit in 2 to 3 months.

I hope that the information provided was useful. If you have any query you can ask me to contact me page.

This page was last updated March 2, 2009.

Other causes of pain from the ankle...

Fracture of the ankle

Sprain of the ankle

Ankle arthritis

Tillaux fracture

Dislocation of the ankle

Rewind the Pilon Fracture ankle pain

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