Ankle Fractures

Ankle Fractures 101: What You Need to Know

The ankle is composed of three bones, each of which can fracture under certain circumstances. The tibia is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. The lower end of the tibia flares out at the inside of your ankle, forming a bony knob called the medial malleolus. The fibula is the thinner of the two bones in your lower leg, and it ends at the outside of your ankle in a bony knob called the lateral malleolus. Inside the ankle is the talus, which is braced between the heel bone and the medial malleolus and lateral malleolus. Together, these structures forms the base for the normal range of motion in your foot and ankle.

Ankle fractures most often results from direct impact to the bone or a sharp twist that goes beyond the ankle’s allowed range of motion. If swelling and bruising develop immediately, a crack or snap is heard, and/or you cannot bear weight on the ankle, it is important to get immediate medical attention. However, the ability to bear weight on the injured ankle does not rule out a fracture, so don’t assume that you’re in the clear simply because you’re able to walk. With or without a fracture, your doctor will also want to rule out any damage to ligaments that may need to be addressed.

After an examination, your doctor will likely order X-rays and potentially a CT scan to assess the exact location and severity of any suspected break. They will also check sensation, movement, and pulse in your feet to see if signs of nerve or artery damage have occurred.

If the fracture involves only one malleolus and the bone segments lie very close together, your physician will likely treat the injury by immobilizing the area in a cast for six to eight weeks to allow the bones to knit back together. If the bone segments are further apart or more extensive damage has been done, surgery may be the recommended course of action. In either case, immobilization and keeping weight off the ankle is extremely important to the healing process.

Regardless of the severity, when addressed quickly, most ankle fractures have a good prognosis without any long-term damage. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting a potential fracture assessed as soon as possible. If a break goes untreated, the possibility exists that the break won’t heal correctly, which will then affect your mobility and flexibility in the long run. Further, fractures that heal improperly have a significantly higher chance of developing arthritis.

If you experience an injury, we have six walk-in orthopedic urgent care clinics that are fully equipped to handle your diagnosis and treatment. With full imaging capabilities and orthopedic specialists on staff, you can skip the ER and come straight to a specialist. You can see someone at our urgent care for the same cost as an office copay, rather than the often-inflated price of an emergency room visit.

Schedule an Appointment

If you experience sudden joint pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in the absence of trauma, you may have gout. Call (855) FVORTHO l (855) 386-7846 to schedule an appointment. A referral is not needed unless required by insurance.