[Ankle arthroscopy in treatment of Bosworth fracture]

The Bosworth fracture is a pattern of fracture-dislocation of the ankle joint with fixed dislocation of the proximal part of the fibula behind the posterior malleolus. It is a rare injury, which requires high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Fixed dislocation of the fibula does not allow for closed reduction, so open reduction and fixation of fibula or tibia is required. We present a case report of a patient who suffered a Bosworth fracture, with associated medial malleolus fracture. She underwent surgical treatment with open reduction and internal fixation of the fibula and tibia. We also performed anterior arthroscopy of the ankle, to evaluate the tibiofibular syndesmosis, remove loose osteochondral fragments, and perform debridement and microfracture of unstable chondral lesions of the talus. One year after injury, she remains with occasional pain and a normal range of motion comparing to the contralateral ankle joint. Bosworth fracture is a serious and rare injury, which requires early diagnosis and urgent surgical treatment. Performing ankle arthroscopy in the acute treatment of the Bosworth fracture allows for diagnosis and treatment of associated intra-articular injuries, as well as assisting with adequate fracture reduction and evaluation of the tibiofibular syndesmosis stability.