Definition
The Volkmann triangle denotes a splitting off of the bone in the area of the ankle joint. The fracture results in an injury to the lower end of the tibia bone. Due to the special anatomy of the ankle joint, a bone triangle can be blown off at the front edge as well as at the rear edge of the tibial bone. Depending on the location of the jettisoning, this is referred to as an anterior or posterior Volkmann triangle.
Causes of a Volkmann Triangle
The causes for the development of a Volkmann triangle are usually a severe trauma of the ankle joint. This can often occur in the context of sports accidents, but traffic accidents can also transfer sufficient force to the ankle joint and thus cause a Volkmann Triangle. In such cases, the Volkmann Triangle is a typical injury of young persons who are active in sports.
However, a Volkmann Triangle can also occur with a minor ankle trauma. The prerequisite for this is a reduction in bone density. Typically, older women are affected.
After the hormonal changes during menopause, some of the female sex hormones drop in concentration. These hormones are important for a stable bone structure, so their loss may result in a reduction in bone density. With increasing age, bone density decreases more and more. Even minimal trauma, such as a simple twist, can lead to severe bony injuries to the ankle. Older people in particular are at risk for such injuries due to their general insecurity of walking.
Accompanying symptoms of a Volkmann Triangle
The Volkmann Triangle is caused by a severe ankle injury with fracture of the bones involved. Initially, the pain in the affected ankle joint is particularly noticeable. This pain is usually so severe that it is no longer possible to walk on the affected foot.
In addition, the ankle swells up quickly, and bruising may also occur if a vessel is injured. If the ankle joint is broken in such a way that a Volkmann triangle is formed, it is usually a severe injury. As a result, the ankle joint is often very unstable.
In addition, accompanying injuries such as a rupture of the inner and outer ligaments occur. This additionally contributes to the instability of the ankle. Occasionally, the fracture in the ankle joint runs in such a way that the ankle is also bony and unstable.
In this case, the bones involved in the joint no longer sit correctly on top of each other, and the ankle joint may even look deformed from the outside. In the worst case, a bone puncture can occur. In this case, one of the broken bones drills through the skin from the inside so that it is visible from the outside.
Our next article could also be interesting for you: Torn ligament of the ankle jointIn a Volkmann triangle, the bone is usually not only separated from the tibia. Often the anatomy of the ankle joint is also disturbed. The joint consists of the tibia, fibula and ankle bone.
Between these bones there are connective tissue and ligament structures that hold the bones together. Often, a rupture of the syndesmosis between the tibia and fibula occurs in the context of an ankle joint injury. This makes the ankle particularly unstable. Often the inner and outer ligaments are also injured.