Which statement best describes a Maisonneuve fracture?

Which statement best describes a Maisonneuve fracture?

• A. It is a fracture of the proximal fibula with disruption of the tibiofibular syndesmoses and ankle injuries
• B. It is a fracture of the distal tibia plafond
• C. It is an isolated proximal fibula fracture without ankle involvement
• D. It is a simple fracture of the distal fibula

Answer: (A)

A Maisonneuve fracture is defined by a fracture of the proximal fibula with disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and an associated ankle injury. This pattern happens with an externally rotated force that travels up the leg, injuring the ankle syndesmosis and often the deltoid ligament, so the ankle mortise becomes unstable even if the distal fibula fracture isn’t obvious. That combination—proximal fibular fracture plus syndesmotic disruption and ankle involvement—is what the correct statement captures. The other descriptions miss essential parts: a plafond (distal tibia articular surface) fracture involves the ankle joint itself, not the proximal fibula with syndesmotic injury; an isolated proximal fibula fracture without ankle involvement ignores the syndesmotic and ankle injuries; a simple distal fibula fracture places the injury at the opposite end of the leg and lacks the proximal fibula and syndesmotic pattern seen in Maisonneuve fractures.

A Maisonneuve fracture is defined by a fracture of the proximal fibula with disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and an associated ankle injury. This pattern happens with an externally rotated force that travels up the leg, injuring the ankle syndesmosis and often the deltoid ligament, so the ankle mortise becomes unstable even if the distal fibula fracture isn’t obvious. That combination—proximal fibular fracture plus syndesmotic disruption and ankle involvement—is what the correct statement captures.

The other descriptions miss essential parts: a plafond (distal tibia articular surface) fracture involves the ankle joint itself, not the proximal fibula with syndesmotic injury; an isolated proximal fibula fracture without ankle involvement ignores the syndesmotic and ankle injuries; a simple distal fibula fracture places the injury at the opposite end of the leg and lacks the proximal fibula and syndesmotic pattern seen in Maisonneuve fractures.