A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. In the ankle, fractures 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 require an accurate and early diagnosis. Both can occur simultaneously.
Causes
- Rotating or twisting of the ankle
- Tripping, Falling or rolling your ankle
- Car Accident
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain at the site of the fracture that may be immediate and severe
- Significant swelling around the area or localized swelling over the fracture site
- Blisters may appear over the fracture site which need attention from a surgeon.
- Bruising
- Decreased or Inability to walk
Diagnosis
Doctor physical exam to determine the extent of the injury
- Ask how the injury happened
- History of any prior injuries
- Symptoms of the injury
X-rays
- Will show if the bone is broken or if there is a displacement between the bones.
Types of Common Ankle Fractures:
- Lateral Malleolus Fracture: Break of the fibula which is the outside bone of the ankle.
- Medial Malleolus Fracture: Break in the tibia which is the inside bone of the lower leg and many times often occurs with a lateral, medial or posterior malleolus fracture. It also usually involves injury to ligaments as well.
- Posterior Malleolus Fracture:This is a fracture to the back of the tibia at the level of the ankle joint. Depending on the severity of the piece broken or size, this may be too unstable for the joint and require surgery.
- Bimalleolar Fracture: “Bi” meaning two, is when two out of the three malleoli are broken.
- Trimalleolar Fracture: “Tri” means that all 3 malleoli of the ankle are broken which causes usually causes an unstable ankle and can be associated with a dislocation.
Treatment Options
Nonsurgical Treatment
- Splint to immobilize
- Short leg cast
- Boot
- Can be Non-weight bearing or weight bearing depending on severity of injury
- Removable Brace
- Physical Therapy
Surgical Treatment
- Fracture may need reduced to normal alignment
- Screws or plates can be used on the outer portion of the bone
- Screws or a rod may also be needed if the bones need held together to heal properly
- Surgery may be recommended even if fracture is not displaced to
- avoid a nonunion (where bones do not fuse together).
