What term describes an ankle injury that results in significant swelling and displacement due to multiple forces?

The term that accurately describes an ankle injury characterized by significant swelling and displacement due to multiple forces is a trimalleolar fracture. This specific type of fracture involves the breaking of three distinct areas of the ankle: the lateral malleolus (the fibula), the medial malleolus (the tibia), and the posterior malleolus (the back part of the tibia). The involvement of multiple sites leads to more severe instability and swelling of the ankle, resulting from the combined forces acting on the joint during the injury.

In contrast, a bimalleolar fracture involves only the two lateral and medial malleoli and may not exhibit the same level of complexity or instability as a trimalleolar fracture. A posterior malleolus fracture is more focused on the back part of the tibia and does not encompass the same extent of injury as seen in a trimalleolar fracture. A Lisfranc injury pertains to a fracture or dislocation in the midfoot and is not related to the ankle itself. Understanding these distinctions highlights why trimalleolar fracture is the most appropriate term for an injury with such significant involvement and consequences.