Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine (Jan 2017)

Weber B Distal Fibular Fracture Diagnosed by Point-of-care Ultrasound

  • James Makinen,
  • Jessica Koehler,
  • Sam Tirgari,
  • David Amponsah

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.2016.11.32270
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 1

Abstract

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We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) after an acute ankle inversion injury. After history and physical exam suggested a potential fracture, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) demonstrated a cortical defect of the distal fibula, consistent with fracture. Plain radiography failed to demonstrate a fracture. Later, the fracture was identified as a Weber B distal fibular fracture by stress-view radiography. This case reviews the evaluation of acute ankle injuries in the ED and the utility of POCUS as a supplemental imaging modality in the evaluation of ankle fracture.