Ankle Fracture

An ankle fracture is identified when one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint are broken. A fractured ankle can range from a small break in one bone to several full breaks in multiple bones. Both are extremely painful and can cause partial or total debilitation of the ankle if not addressed by a professional.The more bones that fracture, the more unstable the ankle becomes. When an ankle is fractured, damage can occur to the surrounding ligaments which stabilize the ankle as well.Broken ankles affect people of all ages and must be taken seriously.

Causes

  • Twisting or rotating your ankle in an abnormal way
  • Rolling your ankle
  • Tripping or falling
  • Pre-existing ligament tears leading to abnormal use of ankle
  • Impact during a car accident

Symptoms

Because a severe ankle sprain can feel the same as a broken ankle, every ankle injury should be evaluated by a podiatrist. Symptoms may vary between patients, however; if you have any of the symptoms below we advise an immediate appointment and to eliminate weight bearing.

  • Immediate and severe pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Tenderness when touched
  • Unable to put pressure on injured foot
  • Any physical signs of deformity such as bone protruding towards the skin.

Nonsurgical Treatment

At Da Vinci Foot and Ankle it is our priority to get you to the road of healing. While surgery may be unavoidable for some, non-surgical treatment is what we prefer to begin with if the ankle is stable and not out of place.

We incorporate several different methods to protect the fracture while it heals. These range from special foot wear to casting. During non surgical treatment, multiple appointments are made within a 6 week period to ensure the fracture had not moved and that healing is taking place.

Surgical Treatment

If the fracture is out of place or your ankle is unstable, your fracture may need to be treated with surgery. During ankle surgery, the bone fragments are first repositioned into their normal alignment and then held together with special screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone. In some cases, a screw or rod inside the bone may be used to keep the bone fragments together while they heal.

 

X-ray of a medial malleolus fracture and treatment

You don’t have to live with pain. Da Vinci Foot and Ankle can help!

CLICK HERE to book your next appointment at Da Vinci Foot and Ankle.

Lake Oconee, GA 706-999-9994