Posterior fracture-dislocation of the distal part of the fibula. Mechanism and staging of injury.

The Bosworth fracture, a fixed posterior fracture-dislocation of the distal part of the fibula due to external rotation of the supinated foot, is a rare injury. In this report we review the literature, present two new cases, and describe our cadaver studies, showing that the initial stages of the injury are identical to those of a Maisonneuve fracture. The final stages that are unique to this fracture-dislocation are the posterior dislocation and fracture of the fibula and the fracture of the medial malleolus or rupture of the deltoid ligament. The objectives of treatment are reduction of the dislocation, repair and stabilization of the tibiofibular syndesmosis, and restoration of the ankle mortise to its anatomical position.