• ABSTRACT
    • Pilon fractures are intra-articular injuries involving the tibial plafond and have a wide range of complexity. The timing and type of fixation in these injuries is dictated by soft tissue status and energy imparted to the distal tibial plafond. We had a unique clinical situation in which axial loading of the talus caused severe comminution of the tibial plafond and fracture of the distal third of the fibula. Further action of these forces caused displacement of the fibular segment into dorsum of the foot along with part of the articular surface of the tibial plafond without causing any external wound. This case was challenging because displacement of the distal fibula resulted in disruption of important syndesmotic and lateral ankle ligaments. Fibular segment was without any soft tissue attachment and was reimplanted in the ankle mortise like a free fibula graft. Near normal ankle biomechanics were achieved in this case through anatomic reduction of the articular surface, reimplantation of the fibula in the ankle mortise, and repair of syndesmotic and lateral ankle ligaments. There was satisfactory clinical and radiological outcome on follow-up of more than 4 years. To our knowledge, this is the only case in Standard English literature where in the case of pilon fracture, the fibula had displaced in the foot without external wound.