Medication
- If the ankle is broken, the doctor will likely put a cast on it. ...
- Your doctor may prescribe painkillers for the days after your injury. In some cases, they may recommend taking over-the-counter painkillers instead.
- Even if you go to your primary care physician or the emergency room, you may be referred to a foot specialist for treatment. ...
Procedures
- raise your ankle if possible
- gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your ankle for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- stop any bleeding – put pressure on the wound using a clean cloth or dressing
- if your ankle is not at an odd angle, wrap it loosely in a bandage to help support it
Therapy
- Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours to bring down the swelling.
- Keep your ankle elevated.
- Don't put any weight on your injured ankle.
- Lightly wrap the injury in a soft bandage that provides slight compression.
Self-care
How to Speed Up the Healing Process
- Use a Knee Scooter. Yes, a knee scooter will help you heal faster. ...
- Keep Your Foot Elevated. You’ll want to keep your foot elevated as much as possible. ...
- Purchase a Shower Chair. You’ll want to shower, or you can try and take a bath with your ankle in a cast. ...
- Start Taking Supplements. ...
- Listen to the Advice of Your Doctor. ...
Nutrition
What therapy will you need for a broken ankle?
How long for a broken ankle to completely heal?
What is the healing process for a broken ankle?
How do you heal a broken ankle?
What is the normal recovery time for a broken ankle?
How long does it take to heal a broken ankle? It takes around six to 10 weeks to recover from a broken ankle. During this time, you will probably need to wear a cast or boot. Most people are able to walk normally again and resume their daily activities by around three months.
What is the best treatment for a fractured ankle?
Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment OptionsRest: Rest is key. ... Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation. ... Compression: Wrapping the injury helps control swelling.Elevation: Keep your foot and ankle raised slightly above the level of your heart to help reduce inflammation.
Do I need a cast for a fractured ankle?
A broken bone must be immobilized so that it can heal. In most cases, this requires a special boot or a cast. Surgery. In some cases, an orthopedic surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to maintain proper position of your bones during healing.
Does a broken ankle always need surgery?
Not all broken ankles require surgery, but all broken ankles require some level of care to heal. You probably won't need surgery if you have a stress fracture. You might need a brace or cast to support your ankle while it heals. More serious ankle fractures require reduction or surgery.
What are the bones that run from the knee to the ankle?
The ankle joint is made up of three bones. The tibia and fibula are the two long bones that run from your knee down to your ankle. The tibia, also known as the shinbone, is the weight-bearing bone and is the thicker and larger of the two. The fibula, or calf-bone, runs parallel and helps to stabilize the tibia.
What is the best way to diagnose ankle fractures?
The most commonly used imaging technique, X-rays can diagnose most ankle fractures. They will also determine the severity of the ankle fracture and whether there are any additional fractures in your leg or foot.
How do you know if you broke your ankle?
The most common symptom of a broken ankle is pain, which is usually immediate and intense. The pain may radiate up and down your leg and even down into your foot. Other symptoms of an ankle fracture or break are: In some cases, you may see exposed bone, which is called an open or compound fracture.
What is the most common fracture of the ankle?
Any one of these bones can break. However, the most common ankle fracture is known as lateral malleolus, which occurs in the fibula, just above the ankle joint. This accounts for around 55% of all ankle fractures (2). Any one of these bones can break.
What is the third bone in the ankle?
The fibula, or calf-bone, runs parallel and helps to stabilize the tibia. The third bone is the talus, a small wedge-shaped bone located deep in your ankle that supports both the tibia and the fibula. Any one of these bones can break. However, the most common ankle fracture is known as lateral malleolus, which occurs in the fibula, ...
How long does it take to recover from a broken ankle?
Broken Ankle Recovery Time. The recovery time for a broken ankle is around 6-10 weeks. Whether you have surgery or not, you’ll probably need to wear a cast, splint or walking boot for around the first six weeks.
What is a broken ankle?
A broken ankle, also known as an ankle fracture, is one of the most common lower leg injuries. It can be very painful and needs to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible because it may need treatment to heal properly. Walking on a broken ankle can make the injury worse so if in doubt, get it checked out.
What is a Pilon fracture?
Pilon fracture (also called a plafond fracture): This is a fracture through the weightbearing “roof” of the ankle (the central portion of the lower tibia). This is usually a higher energy traumatic injury resulting from a fall from a height.
What is a broken ankle?
A broken ankle is a fracture or multiple fractures of one or more of three bones in the ankle joint: the tibia (shinbone), the fibula (outer bone of the lower leg), and the talus. Broken Ankle?
What are the different types of ankle fractures?
Within each of the above types, the fracture will be either: 1 Nondisplaced – Bones are broken but still in correct position and alignment. 2 Displaced – Fractured portions of bone are separated or misaligned. The treatment will be based on fracture alignment and stability of the ankle.
Why does my ankle break?
But they can also be caused by a high-force impact, such as from a fall or automobile collision. Breaks that occur suddenly, during a specific incident or injury, are known as traumatic ankle fractures. But a bone in the ankle can also break due to repetitive stress or impact over time. These are called stress fractures.
Why is it important to have surgery on ankle fractures?
For more serious fractures in which bones or bone fragments are misaligned , surgical intervention is necessary to prevent improper healing (malunion) that would impede proper movement in the ankle and possibly lead to other complications.
Which fracture has the most cartilage damage?
As the number of fracture lines increase, so does the risk of long-term joint damage. Trimalleolar ankle fractures and pilon fractures have the most cartilage injury and, therefore, have a higher risk of arthritis in the future.
Where do stress fractures occur?
Stress fractures can occur in any of the three ankle bones, especially the tibia or fibula. They are also common in the navicular bone, which is separate from the ankle, but lies directly beneath the talus.
What is ankle mobility exercise?
“The Alphabet” is an example of ankle joint mobility exercise: Sit in a chair and extend your leg with the injured ankle so that it is parallel to the ground.
How to know if your ankle is broken?
Notice if you feel pain in and around your ankle. A fractured bone causes immediate, intense pain and swelling. A stress fracture may cause pain that increases over time. The pain should lessen when you rest the ankle, but it won't go away. [3]#N#X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source#N#If your ankle is broken, then it likely won't be able to bear weight at all.#N#If your ankle is tender around the outside or back of your ankle, then you should have it evaluated by a doctor.
How to reduce swelling in ankle?
Compress your ankle with elastic bandages. Compression of the affected area reduces blood flow to the injured site. Hence, less inflammatory cells will be available to cause swelling. If you have put a splint on your ankle and wrapped it with elastic bandage, you are already compressing your ankle.
How to protect ankle from a broken bone?
2. Protect ankle from further injury by using a splint. The most basic splint is a sturdy flat object, like a ruler, that you can press up against your broken bone. You can keep it in place with gauze or medical tape; this helps to keep the broken bone from moving. To learn how to properly splint an ankle, click here .
How to get your ankle back to normal?
Make an appointment with a physical therapist . As your ankle recovers, you will need to start gaining strength back in that ankle. To do this, you will need to go to physical therapy and perform exercises that will help to build your ankle’s mobility and flexibility.
What is the best way to recover from ankle surgery?
Rehabilitate your ankle to regain strength and range of motion . Having a cast or surgery bring your bones back together is only half of the recovery process. Rehabilitation (aka physical therapy) is equally important to recover the stability, mobility, and function of your ankle. Rehabilitation includes ankle joint stability and mobility exercises, calf muscle strengthening, and stretching.
How to get a swollen ankle to stop hurting?
Use an ice pack, bag of ice, or even a bag of frozen veggies to cool down your injured ankle. Ice decreases the flow of blood to your ankle, thus reducing swelling. The cold also masks the pain you feel. Ice your ankle for 15 to 20 minutes every hour.
What to do if you break your ankle bone?
The doctor also may do a CT or CAT scan, or an MRI to determine if surgery is needed. If needed, the doctor will set the broken bone back in place and immobilize the ankle with a splint, cast, or other device. Surgery may be necessary to repair the break.
How to stop bleeding from a swollen ear?
2. Stop Bleeding. Apply steady, direct pressure with a cloth for 15 minutes and elevate the wound. If blood soaks through, apply another cloth over the first and seek immediate medical attention. 3.
What to do if your ankle is numb?
Has a numb, cold, pale, or blue ankle /foot. Is unable to move the foot. Is in shock (faint, pale, with rapid shallow breathing) 1. Leave Protruding Bone Alone. If a bone has broken through the skin, don't push it back into place. Cover the area with a clean bandage and seek immediate medical attention. 2.
How to treat a swollen ankle?
Use crutches if necessary. I ce area. Use an ice pack or wrap the ice in a clean cloth. Do not place ice directly against the skin.
What is the name of the bone in the ankle joint?
It happens when one or more bones in the ankle joint break. The ankle joint is made up of the following bones: The tibia is the larger bone in your lower leg. It’s also called the shinbone. Also called the calf bone, the fibula is the smaller bone in your lower leg.
What are the bones of the ankle?
The ankle joint is made up of the following bones: 1 The tibia is the larger bone in your lower leg. It’s also called the shinbone. 2 Also called the calf bone, the fibula is the smaller bone in your lower leg. 3 The talus is the small bone between the heel bone (the calcaneus), and the tibia and fibula.
What tests can be done to determine if a sprained ankle is a sprained ankle
They might also move your foot around to determine your range of motion. X-ray. An X-ray lets a doctor see the location, type, and severity of the break. Stress test. A stress test determines if a sprained ankle needs surgery. A doctor will place pressure on the ankle and take an X-ray.
What is a Maisonneuve fracture?
Maisonneuve fracture. A Maisonneuve fracture includes two injuries: an ankle sprain and a break in the upper part of the fibula. The break is located near the knee. This injury happens when you fall while rotating, causing the foot to awkwardly hit the ground.
What is a high ankle sprain?
This injury affects the syndesmosis joint, which is located between the fibula and tibia. It’s held in place by ligaments. If only the ligament is injured, it’s also called a high ankle sprain. However, most syndesmotic injuries include a ligament sprain and at least one fracture.
What is a trimalleolar fracture?
A trimalleolar fracture involves all three parts of the ankle, which include the medial (inside), lateral (outside), and posterior (back) malleoli. Like a bimalleolar fracture, this usually requires surgery.
What causes ankle break?
Usually, ankle breaks are caused by falls, high-impact sports, car accidents, or injuries that place excessive force on the ankle. Treatment depends on the severity of the break. If you have a minor ankle break, you might get a walking boot, cast, or splint. If it’s serious, you might need surgery to realign the bone.
What causes ankle injuries?
Faulty equipment, such as shoes that are too worn or not properly fitted, can contribute to stress fractures and falls. Improper training techniques, such as not warming up and stretching, also can cause ankle injuries. Suddenly increase your activity level.
How to prevent ankle twisting?
Keeping clutter off the floor can help you to avoid trips and falls. Strengthen your ankle muscles. If you are prone to twisting your ankle, ask your doctor for exercises to help strengthen the supporting muscles of your ankle.
Why does my ankle hurt after a break?
If your ankle starts to hurt long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation. Bone infection (osteomyelitis). If you have an open fracture, meaning one end of the bone protrudes through the skin, your bone may be exposed to bacteria that cause infection. Compartment syndrome.
What causes a broken ankle?
The most common causes of a broken ankle include: Car accidents. The crushing injuries common in car accidents may cause breaks that require surgical repair. Falls.
What happens if you roll your ankle?
Rolling your ankle can cause a break in the knobby bumps at the end of the tibia and fibula. A broken or fractured ankle is an injury to the bone. You may experience a broken ankle from a twisting injury from a simple misstep or fall, or from direct trauma during a car crash, for example. The seriousness of a broken ankle varies.
What bones do you break when you fall?
Open pop-up dialog box. Close. Foot and ankle bones. Foot and ankle bones. A fall or blow to your ankle can break one or more of the three bones in your ankle joint — the fibula, the tibia and the talus.
What can break bones in your ankles?
Falls. Tripping and falling can break bones in your ankles, as can landing on your feet after jumping down from just a slight height. Missteps. Sometimes just putting your foot down wrong can result in a twisting injury that can cause a broken bone.
What does it mean when your ankle is broken?
A broken or fractured ankle occurs when there is a partial or complete fracture in the ankle joint. Broken ankles can be caused through putting excessive stress on the joint either through heavy impact or twisting it beyond its range of movement. Sometimes the symptoms of a broken or fractured ankle can be like that of a sprain.
How long does it take to heal a broken fibula?
A fractured or broken fibula of this type is referred to as a Lateral Malleolus Fracture and is the most common type of break. This break can take up to 6 weeks to recover without surgery, however the broken ankle recovery time after surgery can be up to 12 weeks in certain cases.
What is a broken ankle?
Generally speaking, a broken ankle is defined as any fracture to the bones that build up the structure of an ankle. A fracture can range in severity from a hairline fracture to a complete break of the ankle bone. The ankle joint is built of three main bones: the tibia, fibula and talus, and any fracture to these bones is considered a broken ankle.
How long does it take for a broken ankle to heal?
This break will generally require surgery to ensure effective healing and could from 3 to 4 months to heal properly.
How long does it take for a tibial fracture to heal?
This injury usually results in the bone being displaced and is usually treated with surgery. Depending on the success of the surgery, healing could take from 6 to 12 weeks.
How to strengthen ankle joint?
After some time, and your ankle is load bearing, you could begin to implement exercises that introduce more weight and more specific movements to continue to build the strength of the joint as it heals. Some example exercises at this point include: 1 Sitting on a chair, with both feet on the ground, place your uninjured foot on top of the recovering foot, and try to lift the foot underneath. Use your top foot to prevent the lower foot from moving and provide something to push against. Repeat the movement by lifting up and down gently. 2 While sitting on the floor, attach a rubber exercise band to something solid, and hook it onto the toes of your injured foot. Move back far enough to create enough tension and begin to bend and straighten your ankle. 3 Sitting in a chair, cross you feet to press the outside of both feet together. Then press your feet together tightly and hold for 10 seconds.
How long does it take to recover from a broken ankle?
How Long Is The Recovery Time For A Broken Ankle? The typical broken or fractured ankle recovery time can be entirely dependent on how serious the break is, but in most cases this can last between 6 to 12 weeks. What type of fracture is suffered is separated according to which bone is damaged in the injury.
What is the purpose of X-rays for ankle fractures?
The main goal of ankle fracture surgery is to put the ankle joint back in place and to stabilize the bones to heal. Getting the ankle joint back in place helps to decrease the risk of developing arthritis of the ankle. Stabilizing the ankle with plates and ...
What is the difference between a tibia and a fibula?
The tibia has a medial (inside) malleoli and a posterior malleoli. The fibula forms the lateral (outside) malleoli. A broken ankle (ankle fracture) occurs when the malleoli are broken. These fractures are very common. Ankle fractures happen with twisting of the ankle, falls, car accidents, or other injury.
What is the talus of an ankle?
the fibula, which forms the outside of the ankle. the talus, a small bone that sits between the tibia and fibula and the heel bone. The ends of these bones are called malleoli.
What are the long term complications of ankle surgery?
Potential long-term problems after ankle fracture surgery include ankle joint stiffness, weakness, and arthritis.
How are broken bones held together?
Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces of the broken bones are placed back together (open reduction). The broken bones are then held together (internal fixation) in this correct position with metal plates and/or screws.
How long does it take for an ankle to recover from surgery?
Some patients may need physical therapy for their ankle to regain full movement and strength. While everyone is different, it may take up to a year after surgery for some patients to regain ankle function.
Can you have surgery on an ankle fracture?
These are called open ankle fractures and require surgery. Ankle fracture surgery is not needed if the ankle is in position and stable despite the fracture. Surgery may be too risk y when patients have a severe medical condition.
