Treatment for Broken Ankles & Ankle Fractures

Causes & Risk Factors for Ankle Fractures

Ankle fractures can occur in people of all ages and are most often the result of sudden, traumatic injury to the bone. If the ligaments, tendons and muscles in your foot and ankle are weak, or you have low bone density due to osteoporosis or other diseases, you’re more likely to sustain a fracture when trauma occurs.

Common causes of a broken ankle or an ankle fracture include:

• Repetitive over-flexing or over-extending the joint (common in many athletic activities).
• Accidental rolling or twisting of the ankle (when stepping off a curb for example).
• Excessive force to the ankle (such as jumping from a great height and landing forcefully).
• Blunt force from a heavy object falling on the foot or ankle.

Signs and Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

Small or hairline ankle fractures may not cause symptoms initially, but can worsen over time. A broken ankle will typically cause immediate pain and an inability to bear weight on the injured foot. In addition to pain, other symptoms of a broken ankle may include:

• Swelling, bruising, redness and tenderness
• Visible deformity of the ankle bone
• Throbbing
• Pain that increases during activity and improves when at rest
• Difficulty walking

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to be evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist. If the bone is protruding through the skin, seek care immediately at the nearest emergency room.

Diagnosing an Ankle Fracture

To diagnose an ankle fracture, a specialist will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. You will be asked to describe how the injury occurred and your symptoms. If a fracture is suspected, imaging tests will confirm the diagnosis and the location and severity of the break. Imaging tests may include:

• Musculoskeletal ultrasound
• MRI
• CT scan
• Weight-bearing CT scan

Conservative Treatments

If an ankle fracture is mild and the bone hasn’t shifted out of place, treatment may include rest and one or more of the following:

• Elevation of the injured foot and ankle.
• Immobilization of the foot and ankle using a cast, brace or medical boot.
• Icing to reduce swelling and inflammation.
• Wrapping the injury with a compression bandage can help control swelling.

Minor ankle fractures will often heal with conservative treatment. It can take up to eight weeks for the bones to heal and several months to regain full use of the joint. More serious fractures may require surgery to heal properly.

Surgery to Repair a Broken Ankle

There are many surgical approaches for a broken ankle, depending on the location and severity of the break. Most procedures implant specialized hardware such as plates, screws or pins to hold the bones in place while they heal. If necessary, our experts will also repair or reconstruct any ligaments, tendons or muscles that may have been damaged due to the injury.