This article addresses pilon fractures—a specific type of fracture that occurs in the lower leg near the ankle.
A pilon fracture is a type of break that occurs at the bottom of the tibia (shinbone) and involves the weight-bearing surface of the ankle joint. With this type of injury, the other bone in the lower leg, the fibula, is frequently broken as well. A pilon fracture typically occurs as the result of a high-energy event, such as a car collision or fall from height.
Pilon is the French word for “pestle”—an instrument used for crushing or pounding. In many pilon fractures, the bone may be crushed or split into several pieces due to the high-energy impact that caused the injury.
In most cases, surgery is needed to restore the damaged bone to its normal position. Because of the energy required to cause a pilon fracture, patients may have other injuries that require treatment as well.
The two bones of the lower leg are the:
The talus is a small foot bone that works as a hinge between the tibia and fibula. Together, these three bones—tibia, fibula, and talus—make up the ankle joint.
Pilon fractures vary. The tibia may break in one place or shatter into multiple pieces.
The severity of the injury depends on several factors, including:
If the bone breaks in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone, the fracture is called an “open” or compound fracture. This type of fracture is particularly serious because, once the skin is broken, infection can occur in both the wound and the bone. Urgent treatment is required to prevent infection.
Pilon fractures most often result from high-energy trauma such as a car or motorcycle accident, fall from height, or skiing accident.
Doctors have seen an increase in pilon fractures since the introduction of air bags in motor vehicles. While air bags enable more people to survive high-speed car crashes, they do not protect the legs—so many of the survivors wind up with pilon fractures and other leg injuries.
Patients with pilon fractures usually experience immediate and severe pain. Other symptoms may include:
Patients with high-energy fractures will almost always go to an urgent care center or emergency room for initial treatment because of the severity of their symptoms.
These patients may also have additional injuries to the head, chest, abdomen, or legs. If their injuries cause significant blood loss, it could lead to shock—a life-threatening condition that can result in organ failure.
After discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will perform a careful examination. He or she will:
Information from imaging studies will help your doctor decide whether surgery is required and will be important for surgical planning.
X-rays. X-rays provide images of dense structures, such as bone. X-rays of the leg, ankle, and foot are commonly done to evaluate a pilon fracture. An x-ray can show if there is an injury to your bones or if the joints in your ankle are out of place.
Computed tomography (CT) scans. A CT scan can provide valuable information about the severity of the fracture by helping your doctor see the fracture lines more clearly. A CT scan will also help your doctor plan your treatment. Your doctor may order a CT scan right away, or may wait until later in your treatment—after an external fixator is applied.
Many pilon fractures require surgery, but some stable fractures can be treated nonsurgically. Whether or not your doctor recommends surgery often depends on how out of place (displaced) the fractured pieces of bone are.
Nonsurgical treatment may be recommended for stable fractures in which the pieces of bone are not displaced or are minimally displaced.
It may also be recommended for patients who do not do a lot of walking or for patients who are at higher risk for surgical complications. For example, patients with severe osteoporosis, heart disease, or other medical concerns may not be able to tolerate surgery.
Nonsurgical treatment may include:
Splints and casts. In most cases, your doctor will first apply a splint to hold your ankle in place. Once the swelling goes down, he or she will replace the splint with a short leg cast. To provide effective support, your cast must correctly fit your ankle. For this reason, as the swelling in your ankle decreases, you may need frequent cast changes.
Monitoring. Your doctor will closely monitor the healing of your fracture. During this time, you will need to return regularly for follow-up x-rays to make sure your ankle remains stable.
Recovery. You will most likely be unable to bear weight on your ankle for up to 12 weeks after your injury. During this time, your doctor may recommend that you use crutches or a walker. After 6 weeks, your doctor may replace your cast with a removable brace. This will offer protection while your ankle continues to heal.
Surgery is commonly recommended for unstable fractures in which the bones are out of place.
During this operation, the displaced bone fragments are first repositioned (reduced) into their normal alignment, and then held together with screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone.
If you have significant swelling or blisters, your doctor will delay your surgery until the swelling goes down. Performing surgery too soon increases your risk for infection or problems with your incision. Your surgery may be delayed for up to 2 weeks or more, depending on how long it takes for the swelling to go down.
Your doctor may place your ankle in a splint until your surgery, or recommend that you have an initial smaller surgery to protect your ankle while waiting for the second surgery.
Your doctor may apply an external fixator to hold your pilon fracture in place and stabilize your ankle until your second surgery can take place.
In this operation, your doctor makes small incisions into the skin and inserts metal pins through the bones. The pins project out of the skin and are attached to carbon fiber bars outside the skin. The external fixator acts as a frame to help hold your ankle in a good position until a second surgery can be performed. The external fixator also helps to restore proper limb length.
If your fibula is also broken, your doctor might first perform surgery to fix the fibular fracture and get your ankle back into place—and then apply an external fixator to hold your pilon fracture in place. Once the swelling and blisters go away, your doctor can then fix your tibia bone with metal plates and screws.
If your skin and bone are severely damaged, making large incisions to insert plates and screws may injure your skin further. This can result in infection. In this case, your fracture may be treated with an external fixator only or with an external fixator and some screws.
After surgery, you will feel some pain. This is a natural part of the healing process. Your doctor and nurses will work to reduce your pain, which can help you recover from surgery faster.
Medications are often prescribed for short-term pain relief after surgery. Many types of medicines are available to help manage pain, including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and local anesthetics. Your doctor may use a combination of these medications to improve pain relief, as well as minimize the need for opioids.
Be aware that although opioids help relieve pain after surgery, they are a narcotic and can be addictive. Opioid dependency and overdose has become a critical public health issue in the U.S. It is important to use opioids only as directed by your doctor. As soon as your pain begins to improve, stop taking opioids. Talk to your doctor if your pain has not begun to improve within a few days of your surgery.
You will most likely start moving your ankle after 2 to 6 weeks. How quickly you begin movement will depend upon your doctor’s preference, the type of fracture, and the treatment used for your injury. If you have an external fixator, you may not be able to start moving your ankle until the external fixator is removed.
Because your leg and ankle will be immobilized for a period of time, you will be at greater risk for developing blood clots. To decrease your risk for a clot, your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant, or blood thinner, while you are waiting for surgery and early on during your recovery.
Most patients are not able to put all of their weight on their injured ankle for 2 to 3 months. Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches, a cane, or a walker during this time.
Once you are allowed to start moving your ankle, your doctor may place it in a removable cast or brace so that you can begin physical therapy. Specific exercises will help improve the range of motion in your ankle. Exercises to strengthen the supporting muscles will be added around 6 weeks after surgery.
As you transition to wearing regular shoes, you will gradually stop wearing your brace. By 4 months after surgery, most patients no longer need a walking aid.
Because your ankle can continue to improve for up to 2 years, it is important to continue the exercises even after you have completed the formal physical therapy program.
By delaying surgery in severe injuries, doctors have continued to decrease the risk of infection and wound problems. This risk has been brought down to about 10% or less for patients with pilon fractures.
Minor infections can be treated with antibiotics and dressing changes. More severe infections may require intravenous antibiotics for several weeks at a time. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to get rid of an infection. Very rarely, the infection cannot be cleared and amputation may be required.
Ankle stiffness is very common after a pilon fracture. In the majority of cases, your ankle will not be the same as it was before your injury. For example, it may be difficult to bend it the same way, go up and down stairs, or climb a ladder.
Posttraumatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that develops after an injury. Even when your bones heal normally, the cartilage protecting the bones can be damaged, leading to pain and stiffness over time.
Some degree of posttraumatic arthritis occurs in about half of all patients with pilon fractures. Your risk for arthritis is determined by a number of factors including the number of broken pieces of bone, the degree of displacement, and whether the bones broke through your skin (open fracture).
Some patients with posttraumatic arthritis may need further surgery to relieve symptoms. However, for many patients there is little pain and no need for further surgery. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on your individual symptoms.
If your fracture does not heal properly, further surgery may be required. Surgery to promote healing usually includes placing a bone graft in the fracture. The bone graft will come from either your own bone (autograft) or from a donor (allograft). Sometimes, a new plate or screws may also be needed.
Other complications of pilon fractures may include:
How soon you are able to resume your normal activities will depend upon several factors, including:
Many people are able to return to preinjury activity levels after pilon fractures. However, if your job involves manual labor or if you participate in high-impact sports, you may not be able to return to the same level of activity as before your injury. To help you maximize your abilities, your doctor and/or physical therapist will guide you in a slow progression to more vigorous movement.
If you participate in high-impact sports, you may be able to resume activities 6 months after your surgery or injury. If your job involves manual labor, you will typically need 4 to 6 months of rehabilitation before going back to full duty at work.
You may limp for several months after your fracture because of stiffness, discomfort, and weakness. Your symptoms will continue to improve for up to 2 years after your injury.
If you experience a pilon fracture, you will probably have many questions about your treatment and recovery. Here are some questions you may wish to discuss with your doctor:
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