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 do they usually do for a broken 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.
How long does a simple ankle fracture take to heal?
Most simple fractures heal well with immobilization and non-weight-bearing activity. You can expect most ankle fractures depending on how severe they are, to take 4-8 weeks for the bones to heal completely and up to several months to regain full use and range of motion of the joint.
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.
Does a broken ankle always need surgery?
When the ankle fracture is unstable or in bad position, surgery is needed to repair the ankle. In some cases, the bones of the ankle may poke through the skin. These are called open ankle fractures and require surgery.
Should I keep my walking boot on all day?
You SHOULD keep the boot on while you're laying around the house to prevent bumping the injury and to help the foot heal properly. Listening to your doctor and following the treatment plan will help to get you better and out of the boot faster!
Can you break your ankle and still walk on it?
Broken ankle — can you still walk? Typically, a minor ankle fracture won't prevent you from walking. You might even be able to walk right after the injury. If you have a serious break, you'll need to avoid walking for a few months.
What kind of ankle fractures require 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 is worse a fracture or a break?
Some people assume that fractured bones are more serious than broken bones, while others assume it's the other way around. But the truth is that these terms are used interchangeably, and they have the same meaning to medical professionals.
What is the most common ankle fracture?
The most common fracture is to the bony bump on the outside of the ankle, the lateral malleolus. The lateral malleolus is the bottom of the fibula, the smaller lower leg bone. The bump on the inside of your ankle, the medial malleolus, is less commonly fractured.
How painful is a broken ankle?
If you fractured your ankle, you will likely experience immediate, sharp pain and possible swelling. Additional symptoms include: Pain that spreads throughout the foot and up your leg, toward your knee. Intensifying pain if you try to bear weight on your foot.
Can you drive with a broken ankle?
If the left ankle is broken, you can drive once you once you have stopped taking narcotics. For the right ankle, driving can be started at 4 to 6 weeks. No weight-bearing is permitted until 4 to 6 weeks. At 4 weeks, exercise activities are initiated in a swimming pool and on a bike.
How long does it take to walk properly after a broken ankle?
If you don't need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches.
How to treat a broken ankle?
Ice and Elevation. Swelling is almost universally seen following a broken ankle. An important part of treatment of an ankle fracture is to minimize swelling . 1 Limiting swelling will help control the pain from the ankle fracture and minimize pressure on the surrounding tissues.
What is the best treatment for a fractured ankle?
Immobilization. Immobilization of an ankle fracture is commonly performed in the emergency room. 2 Usually, a splint or cast will be applied to hold the ankle in place while allowing the bones to heal. Immobilization also helps with pain as it will allow the ankle joint to rest and the swelling to subside. If the ankle fracture is not badly ...
What are the risks of ankle fractures?
Of particular concern with ankle fractures are people who may be at high risk for infection and healing complications. 3 These include people who smoke, have diabetes, or have peripheral vascular disease (circulation problems).
What is the most important factor to consider when deciding on the treatment of an ankle fracture?
Below are a few important considerations: Stability of the ankle joint: The most important factor to consider in deciding on the treatment of an ankle fracture is the stability of the ankle joint. 2 The ankle joint is where three bones come together, and allows the foot to bend up and down. If unstable, the function and stability ...
Why does my ankle wear out so quickly?
The reason the joint wears out quickly is similar to a car wearing out tires when the wheels are not properly aligned. The most common reason to perform surgery on a broken ankle is due to an unstable joint. 2 .
How long can you put weight on a broken ankle?
Sometimes, patients will not be able to place any weight on the ankle for several months, other times within days to weeks. 1 Determining when you can place weight on the broken ankle depends on the type of ankle fracture; this will have to be discussed with your doctor.
What is an open fracture?
Open fractures: There are some types of injuries that require surgery, one particular case is an open fracture. This is when the skin overlying the broken bones is disrupted, and the fracture is exposed to outside the body.
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.
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 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, ...
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?
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.
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 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.
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.
What is nondisplaced ankle?
Nondisplaced – Bones are broken but still in correct position and alignment. Displaced – Fractured portions of bone are separated or misaligned. The treatment will be based on fracture alignment and stability of the ankle. There are some additional, unique types of fractures.
What is the procedure to fix a broken ankle?
This will keep the bone in place as it heals. The procedure is called open reduction and internal fixation.
What is the best way to see if you have a broken ankle?
A CT scan provides more detailed images by taking multiple cross-sectional pictures of the ankle. MRI scan. An MRI scan uses a magnetic field and radio waves to show the bones and surrounding tissue. It can help the doctor find fractures that don’t show up on X-rays. It can also see tears in the ligaments.
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.
Overview
A broken ankle, or ankle fracture, is one of the most common causes of ankle pain. An ankle fracture happens when you break one or more bones in your ankle joint.
Symptoms and Causes
It’s not always easy to know if that pain in your ankle means your ankle is sprained or broken. And if your ankle is broken, you probably won’t know if you’ve broken more than one bone until your healthcare provider can take a look.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider has several tests they use to diagnose ankle fractures and determine the extent of your injury. Tests your provider might use to examine your fracture can include:
Management and Treatment
Ankle fracture treatment depends on factors such as the number of ankle bones broken. Not all broken ankles require surgery, but all broken ankles require some level of care to heal.
Prevention
Many ankle fractures happen after traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents, falling or being injured playing sports.
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.
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.
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.
How to prevent a broken ankle?
Prevention. These basic sports and safety tips may help prevent a broken ankle: Wear proper shoes. Use hiking shoes on rough terrain. Choose appropriate athletic shoes for your sport. Replace athletic shoes regularly. Discard sneakers as soon as the tread or heel wears out or if the shoes are wearing unevenly.
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 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 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.
