Lauge Hansen Classification:

Based on a 2 word system

o 1st word = position of the foot (with respect to the leg) at time of injury
Supination = the 1st stage of the injury will begin on the LATERAL aspect of the ankle
Pronation = the 1st stage of the injury will begin on the MEDIAL aspect of the ankle
o 2 word = motion of the talus with respect to fibula and tibia causes specific fracture pattern
nd

Will have either a ligamentous OR an osseous disruption, never both

o Tillaux-Chaput: AITFL avulsion of tibial insertion (T in Tillaux and in Tibia)
o Wagstaffe-LeForte: AITFL avulsion of fibular insertion (F in Wagstaffe and in Fibula)
Pronation Dorsiflexion = 5th type of fracture pattern Lauge Hansen developed to describe Pilon Fractures
*** hallmark of that fracture pattern***

Suppination Pronation Abduction Supintation External Pronation External Pronation

Adduction Rotation Rotation Dorsiflexion
PAB SER
SAD PER PD
Incidenc
e:
Stage 1 Transverse fibular frx Transverse fracture AITF ligament rupture Transverse fracture of Medial malleolus
(infrasyndesmotic) of medial malleolus OR medial malleolus frx
OR OR Wagstaffe- OR OR
Rupture of lateral Deltoid ligament Leforte/Tillaux Chaput Deltoid ligament Deltoid ligament
collaterals rupture avulsion fracture rupture rupture
Stage 2 ***Vertical frx of AITF ligament ***Spiral oblique AITF ligament rupture Anterior lip of tibial
medial malleolus*** rupture fibular fracture*** OR plafond frx
OR AP: oblique Wagstaffe-
Wagstaffe- Lat: posterior spike Leforte/Tillaux Chaput
Leforte/Tillaux avulsion fracture
Chaput avulsion
fracture
Stage 3 ***Short oblique PITFL syndesmotic ***High Fibular frx*** Fibular frx
fibular frx aka rupture (suprasyndesmotic) (suprasyndesmotic
Butterfly OR )
fragment*** Posterior malleolus frx
AP: oblique (Volkmanns fracture)
Lat: transverse
Stage 4 Transverse fracture of PITFL syndesmotic Transverse frx of
medial malleolus rupture posterior malleolus
OR OR @ same level as
Deltoid ligament Posterior malleolus frx the Stage 1
 rupture (Volkmanns fracture) fracture
Weber A B: transverse on B: posterior spike on C C
Grade lateral x-ray lateral x-ray
Syndes- NO NO YES YES
motic
Injury?

SAD PAB SER PER

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Useful resources:
Radiology Assistant: http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/p420a20ca7196b/ankle-fracture-weber-and-lauge-hansen-classification.html
Dr. Glass Lauge Hansen Youtube Videos
Temple Trauma Manual