Differential Diagnosis for Avulsed, Displaced Fracture of the Medial Malleolus
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Ankle fracture (specifically, a fracture involving the medial malleolus): This is the most direct diagnosis based on the impression provided, as it directly states an avulsed, displaced fracture of the medial malleolus, which is a common type of ankle fracture.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Trimalleolar fracture: This type of fracture involves the medial malleolus, the lateral malleolus, and the posterior edge of the tibia (the posterior malleolus), and could be considered if the fracture pattern is more complex.
- Bimalleolar fracture: Similar to a trimalleolar fracture but involves two of the malleoli, this could be a consideration if the fracture is not isolated to the medial malleolus.
- Syndesmotic injury: This refers to an injury of the syndesmosis, the fibrous joint between the tibia and fibula, which could occur in conjunction with a medial malleolus fracture.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Compartment syndrome: A potentially limb-threatening condition that can occur after a fracture, characterized by increased pressure within a muscle compartment, which could be deadly if missed due to the risk of nerve and muscle damage.
- Open fracture: If the skin is broken, the fracture is considered open, and there's a high risk of infection, making prompt recognition and treatment critical.
- Neurovascular injury: Damage to the nerves or blood vessels around the ankle could lead to serious complications, including loss of sensation, movement, or even the limb if not addressed promptly.
- Rare diagnoses
- Maisonneuve fracture: A rare type of fracture that involves the proximal fibula and is associated with a syndesmotic injury, which might not be immediately apparent on initial imaging.
- Pilond fracture: A rare type of fracture of the distal tibia that could potentially involve the medial malleolus area, though it's more commonly associated with the weight-bearing surface of the tibia.