Pinned ankle fracture. Coloured X-rays showing two views of a pinned ankle fracture in an elderly woman. The ankle is seen from the side at left, and from the front at right. The pin (blue) is linking the fractured ends of the tibia (shin bone) at the fracture site (yellow). The pin holds the bone in position, allowing it to heal correctly. Fractures are very common in elderly women, as after the menopause their ovaries no longer produce the oestrogen hormones that help to maintain bone mass.