Traditionally, orthopedists have classified ankle fractures using two descriptors. The first describes the position of the ankle at the time of injury; the second refers to the force applied to the ankle that caused the injury. These descriptors predict the sequence in which structures are injured and provide the basis for the Lauge-Hansen system of ankle fracture classification shown above. The thick arrows adjacent to the calcaneus in each figure above indicate the direction of the applied force.
