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HOW IS A BROKEN ANKLE TREATED?
The immediate emergency treatment for a fractured ankle is immobilization (keeping it from moving), elevation, compression (wrapping it with an elastic or Ace bandage), and the application of ice packs.
Your doctor may need to set your ankle bone back into its proper place and put you in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks. If the fracture is not too severe, you may be able to walk in the cast after a short period. If the ankle bone cannot be aligned perfectly before it is ready for a cast, surgery will be necessary.
In the first 2 to 3 weeks after the injury, be sure to keep your ankle elevated on pillows, and place ice packs on top of the cast for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours to help reduce swelling.
You should also do the following:
| Make sure the cast does not get wet. Cover the cast with plastic when you bathe (see Cast Care) |
| Use crutches or a cane, as directed by your doctor. Your doctor will tell you how much weight (if any) you may put on your leg (see Crutches) |
| Do not scratch the skin around the cast, and do not poke things down into the cast (see Cast Care) |
HOW CAN I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF?
To help take care of yourself, follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. Also, follow these guidelines:
- Eat a variety of nutritious foods
- Get planty of rest
- Elevate the leg when possible to reduce any swelling
Call your doctor immediately if:
| - you have swelling above or below the fracture |
| - your toenails or feet turn grey or blue, and remain that color even when your leg is elevated |
| - you have numbness or complete loss of feeling in the skin below the fracture |
| - you have lingering pain at the site of the fracture underneath the cast, or increasing pain not helped by elevation or pain medication |
| - you have burning pain under the cast |
WHEN CAN I RETURN TO MY SPORT OR ACTIVITY?
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon, you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers at a different rate.
Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your ankle recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. Some people return within a few days after the cast is removed, some in several weeks. Your ankle will be healing while you are doing your rehabilitation exercises. These exercises will help improve your ankle strength and range of motion.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
| - You have full range of motion in the injured ankle compared to the uninjured ankle |
| - You have full strength of the injured ankle compared to the uninjured ankle |
| - You can jog straight ahead without pain or limping |
| - You can sprint straight ahead without pain or limping |
| - You can do 45 degree cuts, first at half speed, then at full speed |
| - You can do 20 yard "figure eights", first at half speed, then at full speed |
| - You can do 90 degree cuts, first at half speed, then at full speed |
| - You can do 10 yard "figure eights", first at half speed, then at full speed |
| - You can jump on both legs without pain, and you can jump on the injured leg without pain |
| HOW CAN I HELP PREVENT AN ANKLE FRACTURE? |
| - wear proper shoes that fit correctly when you exercise |
| - gently stretch before and after physical activities such as aerobics, running, and sports |
| - avoid playing recreational sports when you are fatigued |
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