Radiographic Imaging of Parachuting-Related Ankle Fractures: Case Series

Ankle sprains and fractures represent the most common cause of parachuting-related injury sustained during landing. Various factors increase risk of injury, including increased combat loads, poor weather conditions, entanglements, and night jumps. The introduction of ankle braces has decreased the incidence of ankle injuries among parachuters. Ankle radiographs are the most frequent imaging modality acquired in the initial evaluation of ankle injuries. Providers are often unfamiliar with radiographic ankle fracture patterns. We present radiographic images of 10 patients who sustained landing-related osseous fractures during the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Understanding the frequent radiographic fracture patterns sustained during landing can help primary care providers, orthopedists, and radiologists in the initial assessment of ankle injuries in populations with high airborne operational activity and recreational parachuting.