According to the Danis-Weber classification based on the level of the fibular fracture relative to the syndesmosis, a Type C ankle fracture is defined as:

• A Fibular fracture below the level of the syndesmosis
• B Fibular fracture at the level of the syndesmosis with an intact syndesmosis
• C Fibular fracture above the level of the syndesmosis with syndesmotic disruption ✓
• D Isolated medial malleolar fracture without fibular involvement

Explanation

Danis-Weber Type C describes a fibular fracture above the syndesmosis, produced by a pronation-external rotation mechanism that ruptures the interosseous membrane and syndesmosis, making the injury inherently unstable and usually requiring syndesmotic fixation. Type A is infrasyndesmotic and Type B is transsyndesmotic. Because the level of the fibular fracture predicts syndesmotic integrity, this classification directly guides operative decision-making.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.