Ankle injuries are common among school-age children, accounting for approximately one-quarter of all pediatric sports-related injuries and ranging from benign sprains to complex fractures involving the physis (growth plate). In fact, ankle fractures are the third most common physeal fracture in children. The distal tibial and fibular physes are located 1 to 2 fingerbreadths proximal to the joint and are the areas of the ankle most susceptible to injury. Identification of physeal injuries is crucial because they can lead to growth arrest and long-term disability. Although not covered herein, it is important to remember that aside from traumatic injury, ankle pain can be a manifestation of infectious, rheumatologic, or oncologic pathology.
The ankle joint is composed of the distal tibia, distal fibula, and talus. The medial and lateral malleoli are the distal prominences of the tibia and fibula, respectively. Although the ankle is classified as a hinge joint, it also...
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