Medication
- 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
Procedures
- 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. ...
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
How long for a broken ankle to completely heal?
What therapy will you need for a broken ankle?
What is the healing process for a broken ankle?
How do you heal a broken ankle?
See more
How long does it take to recover from a broken ankle?
A broken ankle usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but it can take longer. The doctor will tell you: how long you'll have to wear the boot or have the plaster cast on. how much weight to put on your ankle – you may be given crutches or a walking frame to help keep weight off it.
Do Broken ankles 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.
Is it possible to walk on a broken ankle?
Many people assume that if you can put weight on the ankle then it isn't broken, however, it is possible to walk on a broken ankle, particularly with a less severe fracture. If you're concerned your ankle may be broken, we recommend contacting your doctor, who can conduct an examination or order and xray if necessary.
What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?
Rest: Rest is key. Staying off your injury will help you heal faster. You will likely wear a cast to help keep the foot and ankle immobilized. Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and 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.
What happens if you dont treat a broken ankle?
“If not treated properly, subtle ankle fractures can lead to long-term disabilities.” Three bones are most at-risk: The talus is the actual “ankle bone.” Fractures to this bone may be difficult to diagnosis, because often there are no outward symptoms other than what appears to be a sprain.
How do you tell if my ankle is broken?
If you have a broken ankle, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:Immediate, throbbing pain.Swelling.Bruising.Tenderness.Deformity.Difficulty or pain with walking or bearing weight.
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.
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 the most common type of ankle fracture?
The fracture is described as a uni-, bi- or trimalleolar fracture. The most common types of ankle fracture involve a lateral malleolus fracture and a bimalleolar fracture that breaks both the fibula and the tibia. When two or three parts of the malleoli of the ankle are broken, the ankle is unstable, and surgery is necessary.
How long does it take to recover from knee surgery?
After surgery, rehabilitation is essential to restore strength and mobility. After surgery you will find your leg is splinted or in a cast. Pain will be managed with oral medications that reduce the need for the use of opioids. You will use a knee scooter or crutches. Weight bearing activity will be prohibited for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Sutures will be removed after two weeks and you will go to a removable boot. After about six weeks, you will be able to begin rehabilitation.
How to heal a broken ankle?
If you have fractured your ankle, your body will try to protect the injured ankle from further damage by sending a lot of inflammatory (“healing”) cells to the affected area . The inflammatory cells carry repair kits to mend the injury. Unfortunately, these cells also cause swelling and discomfort.
What does a doctor do if you have a broken ankle?
The doctor will examine your ankle and will likely do diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray. This will allow the doctor to determine if the ankle is broken, strained, or sprained. If the ankle is broken, the doctor will likely put a cast on it.
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 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.
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 a broken ankle?
A broken ankle is when one or two of the bones that form the ankle joint get fractured. It is also commonly called an ankle fracture, distal fibula fracture, and distal tibiofibular fracture. (These names refer to the tibia and fibula bones in your ankle.) This is one of the most common bone breaks in both adults and children.
What is the treatment for a broken bone?
The goal of treatment is to let the broken bone or bones heal in their correct positions. You’ll see an orthopedic surgeon. They will discuss options like bracing (wearing a removable boot to walk around in), casting, and surgery as ways to keep the fracture in a stable position.
What does it feel like to break your ankle?
A broken ankle usually causes a lot of pain and swelling right after the injury. Pain can be on one or both sides of the ankle, depending on which bones are injured.
Why does my ankle hurt?
Mainly ankle pain is caused by sprains/strains. Other ankle pain causes are arthritis, gout or infections. Find out the causes and treatments for your ankle pain. If the outside of your ankle is swollen, this may be caused by trauma from an injury, ankle arthritis, or posterior tibialis tendinopathy.
What bones are most prone to getting hurt when the ankle is twisted away from its normal hinge-like motion?
Two of these bones, the tibia and fibula, are most prone to getting hurt when the ankle is twisted away from its normal hinge-like motion. The soft tissues (ligaments) surrounding the ankle may also get injured. But the ligaments can be spared even when the bone breaks.
How long can you walk on a sprained ankle?
You can usually walk on a sprained ankle after a period of minutes up to several days. Rest, elevation, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen or Aleve) usually help lessen the pain as needed. Ankle fractures usually cause more pain and swelling, and potentially deformity.
How long does a splint stay on?
It will be on for somewhere between 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the type of fracture. For milder breaks, your doctor might just give you a removable boot or splint to wear when you walk around. If there is significant displacement of the joint, the doctor may put the joint in a more safe position.
What happens if you break your 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. Bruising or discoloration.
What are the bones of the ankle?
The ankle joint is made up of three bones: the shin bone (tibia), outer ankle bone (fibula), and a bone in the foot between the leg and heel bones (talus). The ankle can fracture in more than one place, and the surrounding ligaments (which connect the bones to stabilize the joints) are also often damaged. The appropriate treatment depends on the ...
What type of imaging is used to determine the location of a fracture?
For large fractures or ones that involve ligaments, your doctor may order more detailed image studies, including a CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
How long does it take for a broken leg to heal?
For a simple break in one bone that is stable, your doctor may recommend using a walking boot or cast for about six weeks to protect the fracture as it heals. Depending on which bone is broken—and where the break is on the bone—you may be able to put some weight on the affected leg right away or you may need to use crutches for a few weeks.
How to keep bone fragments together?
In many cases, your surgeon will reposition any bone fragments into their normal alignment and hold them together with special screws and metal plates that attach to the outer surface of the bone—or inside the bone— to keep the fragments together while you heal.
Can you fracture your ankle again?
After surgery, your ankle should be as strong as it was before the fracture. But if the bone fragments do not remain in place , you may fracture your ankle again or arthritis could develop.
Can a broken ankle be a crack?
Whether caused by a simple misstep or a trauma such as a car crash, a fractured (broken) ankle is a painful and common injury. Broken ankles can vary significantly in severity from a tiny crack in the bone to a large crack to multiple cracks. But even minor ones can immobilize you and require proper treatment to fully heal.
