Life Science Encyclopedia

A trimalleolar fracture is a fracture of the ankle that involves the lateral malleolus, medial malleolus and the distal posterior aspect of the tibia, the posterior malleolus.^{[citation needed]}

The three afore mentioned parts of bone articulate with the talus bone of the foot. Strictly speaking, there are only two malleoli (medial and lateral), but the term trimalleolar is used nevertheless and as such a misnomer.

Treatment

Surgical repair is required, and because there is no lateral restraint of the foot, the ankle cannot bear any weight while the bone knits. This typically takes six weeks in an otherwise healthy person.

See also

• Anatomical terms of location
• Bimalleolar fracture