[When is ankle fracture treatable without surgery?].

Stability of a fractured ankle is the most important factor when considering the choice between operative and non-operative treatment. Depending on the mechanism of injury, the most common type of ankle fracture, spiral fracture of the lateral malleolus (Weber B) may be stable or unstable. It can be treated conservatively, provided that the shape of the ankle joint has remained intact in both projections and there is neither significant injury of deep deltoid ligament nor another fracture within the ankle region. In cases of suspected unstable ankle fracture the patients should be referred to a clinic having experience of surgical therapy of ankle fractures.