The ankle joint is a complex hinge joint that plays an important role in weight-hearing, walking and standing. Injuries to the ankle joint cause not only destruction of bony architectures, but also significant ligamentous and soft tissue damages. Therefore the goal of treatment of the ankle fracture is restoration of the normal articular surfaces by accurate anatomical reduction and firm interanl fixation and repair of the ligamentous or soft tissue damages.

So we analyzed the results of 48 cases of ankle fractures which were treated in Orthopedic Department from January 1987 to June, 1990.

The results obtalined were as follows :

1. Ankle fractures were commonest in male(35 cases, 73%) and peak incidence of age was 20-30 years old(25 cases, 52%). The main causes of injuries were slip down(19 cases, 40%).

2. Supination-external rotation injuries were most common by the Lauge-Hansen classification(23 cases, 48%) and tyfe B ankle injuries were most common by the Dams-Weber classification(23 cases, 58%).

3. Open reduction was performed in 40 cases(83%) and closed reduction was performed in 8 cases (17%). The result was better in those cases which were treated by open reduction and internal fixation than those by closed reduction. So anatomical reduction and firm internal fixation of the fibula and repair of the distal tibiofibular ligament or transfixation of the distal tibiofibular joint with screw were thought to be very important in the management of the ankle injuries.

4. Diastasis was noted in 20 cases(41.6%). According to Lauge-Hansen classification, diastasis in 7 cases(77.8%) of the pronation-external rotation injuries and 11 cases(47.8%) of the supination-external rotation injuries, and in 10 cases(76.9%) of type C injuries and 10 cases(43.4%) of type B injuries from Dams-Weber classification

5. Dams-Weber classification were thought to be clinically more useful for the evaluation of hidden ligamentous injuries comparing to Lauge-Hansen classification in the point of easy applicability without complete understanding of the injury mechanisms.