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      • Arch Pain
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      • Fracture
        • Foot Fracture
        • Fracture-Ankle
        • Fracture-Foot
        • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
        • Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
        • Fracture-Toe
        • Jones Fracture
        • Stress Fracture in the Foot
        • Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
      • Gangrene
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      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Hallux Rigidus
      • Hammertoes
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      • Intermetatarsal Neuroma
      • Intoeing
      • Joint Pain in the Foot
      • Joint Swelling in the Foot
      • Lisfranc Injuries
      • Os Trigonum Syndrome
      • Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
      • Osteopenia
      • Osteoporosis
      • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
      • Pigeon-toes
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
      • R.I.C.E Protocol
      • Restless Legs
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
      • Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
      • Shin Splints
      • Swollen Feet
      • Synovitis
      • Tailor's Bunion
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      • Foot Odor
      • Foot Rash
      • Frostbite
      • Fungal Nails
      • Ganglion Cyst
      • Heel Fissures
      • Inflammation: Acute
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
      • Plantar Fibroma
      • Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
      • Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
      • Puncture Wounds
      • Rash
      • Raynauds Phenomenon
      • Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
      • Smelly Feet
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Pawleys Podiatry

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  • Ankle >
  • Ankle Fractures

What Is an Ankle Fracture?

A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. Fractures in the ankle can range from the less serious avulsion injuries (small pieces of bone that have been pulled off) to severe shattering-type breaks of the tibia, fibula, or both.

Ankle fractures are common injuries that are most often caused by the ankle rolling inward or outward. Many people mistake an ankle fracture for an ankle sprain, but they are quite different and therefore require an accurate and early diagnosis. They sometimes occur simultaneously.

Symptoms
An ankle fracture is accompanied by one or all of these symptoms:

  • Pain at the site of the fracture, which in some cases can extend from the foot to the knee
  • Significant swelling, which may occur along the length of the leg or may be more localized
  • Blisters may occur over the fracture site. These should be promptly treated by a foot and ankle surgeon.
  • Bruising that develops soon after the injury
  • Inability to walk—however, it is possible to walk with less severe breaks, so never rely on walking as a test of whether a bone has been fractured
  • Change in the appearance of the ankle – it will look different from the other ankle
  • Bone protruding through the skin—a sign that immediate care is needed. Fractures that pierce the skin require immediate attention because they can lead to severe infection and prolonged recovery.

ankfrac02.jpg     ankfrac01.jpg

Diagnosis
Following an ankle injury it is important to have the ankle evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon for proper diagnosis and treatment. If you are unable to do so right away, go to the emergency room and then follow up with a foot and ankle surgeon as soon as possible for a more thorough assessment.

The affected limb will be examined by the foot and ankle surgeon by touching specific areas to evaluate the injury. In addition, the surgeon may order x-rays and other imaging studies, as necessary.

Non-Surgical Treatment
Treatment of ankle fractures depends upon the type and severity of the injury. At first, the foot and ankle surgeon will want you to follow the R.I.C.E. protocol:

  • Rest: Stay off the injured ankle. Walking may cause further injury.
  • Ice: Apply an ice pack to the injured area, placing a thin towel between the ice and the skin. Use ice for 20 minutes and then wait at least 40 minutes before icing again.
  • Compression: An elastic wrap should be used to control swelling.
  • Elevation: The ankle should be raised slightly above the level of your heart to reduce swelling.

Additional treatment options include:

  • Immobilization. Certain fractures are treated by protecting and restricting the ankle and foot in a cast or splint. This allows the bone to heal.
  • Prescription medications. To help relieve the pain, the surgeon may prescribe pain medications or anti-inflammatory drugs.

When is Surgery Needed?
For some ankle fractures, surgery is needed to repair the fracture and other soft tissue related injuries, if present. The foot and ankle surgeon will select the procedure that is appropriate for your injury.

Follow-up Care
It is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions after treatment. Failure to do so can lead to infection, deformity, arthritis, and chronic pain.

  • Bone/Joint/Tendon
    • Accessory Navicular Syndrome
    • Achilles Tendon Rupture
    • Ankle
      • Ankle Arthritis
      • Ankle Fractures
      • Ankle Pain
      • Ankle Sprain
      • Swollen Ankles
      • Tarsal Coalition
      • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
      • Weak Ankles
    • Arch Pain
    • Arch Supports
    • Bone Healing
    • Bone Infection
    • Bone Tumors in the Foot
    • Brachymetatarsia
    • Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus)
    • Bursitis
    • Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
    • Calf Pain
    • Capsulitis of the Second Toe
    • Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
    • Charcot Foot
    • Chronic Ankle Instability
    • Clubfoot
    • Cold Feet
    • Common Disorders of the Achilles Tendon
    • Drop Foot
    • DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
    • Extra Bones
    • Fallen Arches
    • Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
    • Flatfoot
      • Flatfoot-Adult Acquired
      • Flatfoot-Flexible
      • Flatfoot-Pediatric
    • Foot Arthritis
    • Foot Drop
    • Fracture
      • Foot Fracture
      • Fracture-Ankle
      • Fracture-Foot
      • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
      • Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
      • Fracture-Toe
      • Jones Fracture
      • Stress Fracture in the Foot
      • Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
    • Gangrene
    • Gout
    • Haglund's Deformity
    • Hallux Rigidus
    • Hammertoes
    • Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
    • High-Arched Foot
    • Intermetatarsal Neuroma
    • Intoeing
    • Joint Pain in the Foot
    • Joint Swelling in the Foot
    • Lisfranc Injuries
    • Os Trigonum Syndrome
    • Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
    • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
    • Osteopenia
    • Osteoporosis
    • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
    • Pigeon-toes
    • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
    • R.I.C.E Protocol
    • Restless Legs
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
    • Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
    • Shin Splints
    • Swollen Feet
    • Synovitis
    • Tailor's Bunion
    • Talar Dome Lesion
    • Tingly Feet
    • Tired Feet
    • Toe Walking
    • Turf Toe
    • Varicose Veins
    • Webbed Toes
  • Nails and Skin
    • Athlete's Foot
    • Black Toenails
    • Callus
    • Contact Dermatitis
    • Corns
    • Cracked Heels
    • Dermatitis
    • Dry Heels
    • Eczema of the Foot
    • Foot Bumps
    • Foot Lumps
    • Foot Odor
    • Foot Rash
    • Frostbite
    • Fungal Nails
    • Ganglion Cyst
    • Heel Fissures
    • Inflammation: Acute
    • Ingrown Toenails
    • Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
    • Plantar Fibroma
    • Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
    • Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
    • Puncture Wounds
    • Rash
    • Raynauds Phenomenon
    • Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
    • Smelly Feet
    • Sweaty Feet
    • Thick Toenails
    • Warts
    • White Toenails
    • Wounds/Ulcers
    • Wounds-Puncture
    • Yellow Toenails
  • Diabetic Health
    • Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
    • Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
    • Diabetic Shoes
    • MRSA Infection of the Foot
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
    • Soft Tissue Biopsy
  • Fitness and Your Feet
    • Baseball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Basketball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Field Hockey Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Golf Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Lacrosse Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Rugby Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Running and Track Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Soccer Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Softball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Tennis Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Volleyball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Orthotics and Footwear
    • Custom Orthotic Devices
    • Orthotics
    • Shoe Inserts
  • Compartment Syndrome
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Equinus
  • Instructions for Using Crutches
  • Staph Infections of the Foot

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