An injury known as a Potts fracture occurs to which part of the body?

A Pott’s fracture is a fracture affecting one or both of the malleoli (either of two rounded bony projections of the tibia and fibula on the sides of each ankle). During activities such as landing from a jump (volleyball, basketball) or when rolling an ankle, a certain amount of stress is placed on the tibia and fibula and the ankle joint. When this stress is traumatic, and beyond what the bone can withstand, a break in the medial, lateral, or posterior malleolus may occur.

Also, activities involving a sudden change of direction, such as football and rugby, can cause fractures around the malleoli. When this happens, this condition is known as a Pott's fracture. A Pott's fracture often occurs in combination with other injuries such as an inversion injury, a dislocation of the ankle, or other fractures of the foot, ankle, or lower leg.

Pott's fractures can vary in location, severity, and type including displaced fractures, un-displaced fractures, bi-malleolar fractures, or compound fractures. It is difficult to distinguish clinically between a fracture and a moderate-to-severe ligament sprain. Both conditions may result from inversion injuries, with severe pain and varying degrees of swelling and disability.

English physician Percivall Pott experienced this injury in 1765 and described his clinical findings in a paper published in 1769.