WHAT IS A BROKEN ANKLE?

A broken ankle is a break in one or both of the bones that make up the ankle joint. These bones are the tibia and the fibula.

HOW DOES IT OCCUR?

Ankle breaks (or fractures) can occur in many ways, for example, by falls, contact sports and exercise injuries, and force from a blow.

There are many types of fractures, which determine the severity of the injury and its treatment.

NONDISPLACED FRACTURE
the broken pieces of bone remain properly aligned

DISPLACED FRACTURE
the broken pieces of bone are not properly aligned

COMMINUTED FRACTURE
there are more than two pieces of bone at the fracture

COMPOUND (OPEN) FRACTURE
one end of the broken bone has broken through the skin

CLOSED FRACTURE
neither end of the broken bone has pierced the skin

IMPACTED FRACTURE
the ends of the broken bone are driven into each other

AVULSION FRACTURE
the muscle or ligament has pulled a portion of the bone away from where it was originally attached

PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURE
the bone has been weakened or destroyed by disease (such as osteoporosis) so that the bone breaks easily

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of an ankle fracture include:

- a popping or snapping sound at the time of injury

- loss of function (pain when attempting to move the ankle)

- pain, tenderness, and swelling

- deformity (in some cases)

- discolored skin or bruising, appearing days to hours after the injury

- an open wound (very rarely)

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

To diagnose an ankle fracture, your doctor will review your symptoms, ask about how the injury occurred, and examine your ankle. Your doctor will order that x-rays be taken from several different views in order to pinpoint the fracture.

BROKEN ANKLE - TREATMENT

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