Der Unfallchirurg
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Fractures of the ankle in adults are very common. Like every intraarticular fracture, they require perfect reduction and stable fixation to guarantee a good result. In most cases this can only be achieved by open treatment. ⋯ From 1978 to 1992 more than 1000 ankle fractures were treated in our clinic by open reduction and fixation: 72 were type C ankle fractures, and the rest, either type A or type B fractures. When we reviewed our type C fractures we found 9 patients with so-called atypical type C fractures; these have an atypical fracture pattern insofar as a fracture of the medial malleolus is combined with tibiofibular ligament lesion and there is no fibula fracture. Definition, diagnosis, treatment and results are presented in this publication.