Acutely irreducible ankle fracture dislocation: a report of a Bosworth fracture and its management

Abstract

Background: Acutely irreducible ankle fractures are uncommon. Irreducibility caused by interposition of soft tissue and entrapment of fracture fragments has been well described. An irreducible ankle fracture due to a locked fibular shaft fragment behind the tibia, a Bosworth fracture, is a rare injury.

Case report: We describe a Bosworth fracture in a 19-year-old man subsequent to a fall.

Conclusion: The Bosworth fracture dislocation is a rare injury to the ankle, the correct diagnosis of which depends on awareness of the variant and careful evaluation of the initial clinical and radiographic features. As with our patient, a good outcome is achievable despite the severe nature of these injuries.