Medication
- raise your ankle if possible
- gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your ankle for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- stop any bleeding – put pressure on the wound using a clean cloth or dressing
- if your ankle is not at an odd angle, wrap it loosely in a bandage to help support it
Procedures
- Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours to bring down the swelling.
- Keep your ankle elevated.
- Don't put any weight on your injured ankle.
- Lightly wrap the injury in a soft bandage that provides slight compression.
Therapy
Some example exercises at this point include:
- Sitting on a chair, with both feet on the ground, place your uninjured foot on top of the recovering foot, and try to lift the foot underneath. ...
- While sitting on the floor, attach a rubber exercise band to something solid, and hook it onto the toes of your injured foot. ...
- Sitting in a chair, cross you feet to press the outside of both feet together. ...
Self-care
Rehabilitation Exercise Program for a Broken Ankle
- Range of Motion Exercises. Ankle range of motion (ROM) exercises are one of the first things your PT will prescribe once you get out of your cast or brace after ...
- Flexibility Exercises. ...
- Strengthening Exercises. ...
- Return to Walking and Running. ...
- Balance and Proprioception Exercises. ...
- Plyometric Exercise
Nutrition
How long for a broken ankle to completely heal?
What is the healing process for a broken ankle?
How can you get a broken ankle to heal faster?
What exercises can you do for a broken ankle?
Can you fully recover from a broken ankle?
Depending on the severity of your foot and/or ankle fracture, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to fully recover. Speak with your doctor about what recovery may mean for you. Healing takes time, and even after the pain wears off it is important to take it easy.
How long does it take for broken ankles to heal?
Recovering from a broken ankle A broken ankle usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but it can take longer. The doctor will tell you: how long you'll have to wear the boot or have the plaster cast on. how much weight to put on your ankle – you may be given crutches or a walking frame to help keep weight off it.
What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?
Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at HomeStay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further.Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain.Apply cold packs to the injured area to decrease swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly. Cold packs are effective for up to 48 hours.
Can a broken ankle be fixed without surgery?
Nonsurgical Treatment If the fracture is not out place and the ankle is stable, it can be treated without surgery. Treatment may be with a short leg cast or a removable brace. Patients are typically advised not to put any weight on the ankle for 6 weeks.
Will a broken ankle ever be the same?
If it's a low-to-medium grade ligament injury or a stable bone fracture, then it's highly likely that the ankle will be similar to before. With more severe ligaments and unstable fractures, there is always some difference in flexibility and appearance.
What helps broken bones heal faster?
The three key steps to faster bone healing are:Alignment of the broken bone fragments.Stability and support at the fracture site through immobilization.Healthy lifestyle choices that promote healing.
Can I walk on broken ankle after 5 weeks?
For most people, it's after about two to six weeks although it may be less or more depending on the type and severity of your fracture. It's crucial to adhere to your doctor's orders not to put any weight on your leg too early as walking on a broken ankle too early can prevent it from healing.
Why a boot and not a cast?
Less skin damage – skin underneath a cast can become raw and painful. The open-air design and lightweight material helps to prevent skin damage when wearing a walking boot. No loud saws used – walking boots can be removed without the use of loud saws. This is helpful for children who may be afraid of the saws.
What are the long term effects of a broken ankle?
Long term effects of ankle fractures have been reported to include physical, psychological, and social consequences [9]. It has been reported that physical impairments following ankle fractures may include pain, functional impairment and the development of post-trauma arthritis [16].
How painful is a broken ankle?
If you fractured your ankle, you will likely experience immediate, sharp pain and possible swelling. Additional symptoms include: Pain that spreads throughout the foot and up your leg, toward your knee. Intensifying pain if you try to bear weight on your foot.
What is worse a fracture or a break?
There's no difference between a fracture and a break. A fracture is any loss of continuity of the bone.
What's the worst ankle fracture?
A trimalleolar ankle fracture is when your ankle breaks in three separate places. Only 7% of all ankle breaks are trimalleolar ankle fractures. They are rare, and they are among the worst kinds of ankle fractures.
How long does it take to walk after breaking your ankle?
If you don't need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches.
What are the long term effects of a broken ankle?
Long term effects of ankle fractures have been reported to include physical, psychological, and social consequences [9]. It has been reported that physical impairments following ankle fractures may include pain, functional impairment and the development of post-trauma arthritis [16].
How long does it take to walk again after ankle surgery?
There are a few operations where a patient can be expected to resume wearing standard footwear in as little as 2-3 weeks but the majority of foot and ankle operations take at least 8 weeks before standard footwear can be attempted.
What is the best way to treat a broken ankle?
A CT scan may help your doctor determine the best treatment for your broken ankle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create very detailed images of the ligaments that help hold your ankle together. This imaging helps to show ligaments and bones and can identify fractures not seen on X-rays.
What does a doctor do when you have a sore ankle?
Your doctor will examine your ankle to check for points of tenderness. The precise location of your pain can help determine its cause.
What is the best way to diagnose fractures?
Bone scan. A bone scan can help your doctor diagnose fractures that don't show up on X-rays. A technician will inject a small amount of radioactive material into a vein. The radioactive material is attracted to your bones, especially the parts of your bones that have been damaged.
How to reduce swelling in ankle?
Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours to bring down the swelling. Keep your ankle elevated. Don't put any weight on your injured ankle. Lightly wrap the injury in a soft bandage that provides slight compression. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
What to do if you have a broken bone?
Depending on the amount of pain and swelling you have, you may need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or a local anesthetic to numb the area before this procedure. Immobilization. A broken bone must be immobilized so that it can heal. In most cases, this requires a special boot or a cast. Surgery.
What is the best pain reliever for a swollen ear?
Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
What do you use to fix a fractured bone?
Surgery. In some cases, an orthopedic surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to maintain proper position of your bones during healing. These materials may be removed after the fracture has healed if they are prominent or painful.
What is a broken ankle?
A broken ankle, also known as an ankle fracture, is one of the most common lower leg injuries. It can be very painful and needs to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible because it may need treatment to heal properly. Walking on a broken ankle can make the injury worse so if in doubt, get it checked out.
What are the Symptoms of a Broken Ankle?
The most common symptom of a broken ankle is pain, which is usually immediate and intense. The pain may radiate up and down your leg and into your foot. You may also experience some or all of the following symptoms.
What Can I Expect During My Broken Ankle Recovery?
Being off your feet for weeks can be frustrating , but this period of non-weight bearing activity is a crucial part of the recovery process. Walking on a broken ankle too early can prevent it from healing correctly and may make the injury worse. Fortunately, there are a few different mobility devices that can help you to stay mobile during this challenging phase.
What are the most common causes of ankle fractures?
A study of nearly 10,000 patients with ankle fractures [3] found that the two most common causes of injury were falls (61 percent) and sports (22 percent). Years with colder winters saw more cases, and the risk was slightly higher for women than for men. Additionally, most ankle fractures occur in two distinct groups: young adults active in sports and high impact activities, and elderly people due to trip-and-fall injuries.
How long does it take for an ankle fracture to heal?
You’ll probably need to wear a cast, splint or walking boot for six to 10 weeks to keep your bones in place while they heal. During this time, you’ll be non-weight bearing, which means you can’t put any weight on your injured leg at all. You’ll need to use a mobility device like crutches, a knee scooter, or a hands-free crutch to make this phase of your recovery as seamless and successful as possible.
What are the bones that support the ankle?
The ankle joint is made up of three bones. The tibia and fibula are the two long bones that extend from your knee to your ankle. The tibia, also known as the shinbone, is the weight-bearing bone and the thicker and larger of the two. The fibula, or calf-bone, runs parallel and helps stabilize the tibia. The third bone in your ankle is the talus, a small wedge-shaped bone at the top of your foot. It supports both the tibia and the fibula.
Where do most ankle fractures occur?
Any one of these bones can break, but the most common ankle fracture occurs in the lateral malleolus, a part of the fibula just above the ankle joint [2].
How long does it take for an ankle to recover from surgery?
Some patients may need physical therapy for their ankle to regain full movement and strength. While everyone is different, it may take up to a year after surgery for some patients to regain ankle function.
What is the purpose of X-rays for ankle fractures?
The main goal of ankle fracture surgery is to put the ankle joint back in place and to stabilize the bones to heal. Getting the ankle joint back in place helps to decrease the risk of developing arthritis of the ankle. Stabilizing the ankle with plates and ...
What is the difference between a tibia and a fibula?
The tibia has a medial (inside) malleoli and a posterior malleoli. The fibula forms the lateral (outside) malleoli. A broken ankle (ankle fracture) occurs when the malleoli are broken. These fractures are very common. Ankle fractures happen with twisting of the ankle, falls, car accidents, or other injury.
What is the difference between a left and right ankle fracture?
Left, a bimalleolar ankle fracture before surgery. Right, the ankle fracture after it has been fixed.
What is the talus of an ankle?
the fibula, which forms the outside of the ankle. the talus, a small bone that sits between the tibia and fibula and the heel bone. The ends of these bones are called malleoli.
What are the long term complications of ankle surgery?
Potential long-term problems after ankle fracture surgery include ankle joint stiffness, weakness, and arthritis.
How are broken bones held together?
Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces of the broken bones are placed back together (open reduction). The broken bones are then held together (internal fixation) in this correct position with metal plates and/or screws.
What are the treatment options?
Treatment options depend on the type, location and severity of fracture and any associated soft tissue injuries, your health, age and activity level. The fracture is described as a uni-, bi- or trimalleolar fracture. The most common types of ankle fracture involve a lateral malleolus fracture and a bimalleolar fracture that breaks both the fibula and the tibia. When two or three parts of the malleoli of the ankle are broken, the ankle is unstable, and surgery is necessary.
What is a lateral malleolus fracture?
The most common types of ankle fracture involve a lateral malleolus fracture and a bimalleolar fracture that breaks both the fibula and the tibia.
How long does it take for an ankle fracture to heal?
Initial healing may be complete within 3-4 months, but it can take up to 2 years for an ankle fracture to heal. Wearing an ankle brace after healing can help prevent future injury during daily activities.
How long does it take to recover from knee surgery?
After surgery, rehabilitation is essential to restore strength and mobility. After surgery you will find your leg is splinted or in a cast. Pain will be managed with oral medications that reduce the need for the use of opioids. You will use a knee scooter or crutches. Weight bearing activity will be prohibited for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Sutures will be removed after two weeks and you will go to a removable boot. After about six weeks, you will be able to begin rehabilitation.
What causes a stress fracture in the ankle?
An ankle stress fracture usually occurs some time after a person begins a new activity that involves significant impact of the foot, such as hiking, running or field sports. They can also occur in an active person who quickly increases their activity, for example when someone who is accustomed to jogging a few miles a week begins to train for a 26-mile marathon.
What is a broken ankle?
A broken ankle is a fracture or multiple fractures of one or more of three bones in the ankle joint: the tibia (shinbone), the fibula (outer bone of the lower leg), and the talus.
What are the different types of ankle fractures?
Because the ankle joint comprises three bones, there are numerous types of ankle fractures. Doctors think of the ankle as having three sides and a "roof," and fractures can occur in each of these areas or in combination.
What are the symptoms of a broken ankle?
The most common symptoms of an ankle fracture are pain and swelling, either of which may be present only in the ankle region itself or spread to parts of the foot or up toward the knee. Any pain will usually be more intense if the injured person tries to put weight on the ankle.
How is a broken ankle diagnosed?
X-rays are usually required to determine whether there is a broken bone as opposed to a soft-tissue injury like a sprain, since ankle sprains and breaks have similar symptoms. Other radiology imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, may be needed to determine the full scope of the injury.
What is the recovery time of a broken ankle?
It takes about six weeks for bones to heal. It may take longer for ligaments or other soft tissues to heal as well.
What is the bump on the inside of the ankle called?
Bimalleolar ankle fracture: This second-most common type involves breaks of both the lateral malleolus and of the medial malleolus, the knobby bump on the inside of the ankle (in the lower portion of the tibia).
What is the best way to see if you have a broken ankle?
A CT scan provides more detailed images by taking multiple cross-sectional pictures of the ankle. MRI scan. An MRI scan uses a magnetic field and radio waves to show the bones and surrounding tissue. It can help the doctor find fractures that don’t show up on X-rays. It can also see tears in the ligaments.
How long does it take for a broken ankle to heal?
Generally, broken ankles heal within 6 to 12 weeks. Injuries that don’t need surgery may heal in 6 weeks. During this time, your doctor may take regular X-rays to check on the bone.
What is the name of the bone in the ankle joint?
It happens when one or more bones in the ankle joint break. The ankle joint is made up of the following bones: The tibia is the larger bone in your lower leg. It’s also called the shinbone. Also called the calf bone, the fibula is the smaller bone in your lower leg.
What are the bones of the ankle?
The ankle joint is made up of the following bones: 1 The tibia is the larger bone in your lower leg. It’s also called the shinbone. 2 Also called the calf bone, the fibula is the smaller bone in your lower leg. 3 The talus is the small bone between the heel bone (the calcaneus), and the tibia and fibula.
What tests can be done to determine if a sprained ankle is a sprained ankle?
They might also move your foot around to determine your range of motion. X-ray. An X-ray lets a doctor see the location, type, and severity of the break. Stress test. A stress test determines if a sprained ankle needs surgery. A doctor will place pressure on the ankle and take an X-ray.
What is the most likely injury to the ankle?
The doctor will examine your ankle for swelling and tenderness. If there is tenderness over a ligament, the injury is most likely a sprain. If tenderness is over the bone, it’s most likely a fracture. They might also move your foot around to determine your range of motion. X-ray.
Where does a medial malleolus fracture occur?
A medial malleolus fracture happens at the end of the tibia. Specifically, it affects the medial malleolus, which is the knob inside your ankle. These usually require surgery because the lining of the bone, the periosteum, folds into the fracture site at the time of the injury and prevents the bone from healing.
What is a broken ankle?
Generally speaking, a broken ankle is defined as any fracture to the bones that build up the structure of an ankle. A fracture can range in severity from a hairline fracture to a complete break of the ankle bone. The ankle joint is built of three main bones: the tibia, fibula and talus, and any fracture to these bones is considered a broken ankle.
What does it mean when your ankle is broken?
A broken or fractured ankle occurs when there is a partial or complete fracture in the ankle joint. Broken ankles can be caused through putting excessive stress on the joint either through heavy impact or twisting it beyond its range of movement. Sometimes the symptoms of a broken or fractured ankle can be like that of a sprain.
How Long Is The Recovery Time For A Broken Ankle?
The typical broken or fractured ankle recovery time can be entirely dependent on how serious the break is, but in most cases this can last between 6 to 12 weeks. What type of fracture is suffered is separated according to which bone is damaged in the injury. In this section, we will discuss the common types of ankle fractures in accordance with their estimated recovery times.
How long does it take for a fractured ankle to heal?
This break will generally require surgery to ensure effective healing and could from 3 to 4 months to heal properly.
How long does it take to heal a broken fibula?
A fractured or broken fibula of this type is referred to as a Lateral Malleolus Fracture and is the most common type of break. This break can take up to 6 weeks to recover without surgery, however the broken ankle recovery time after surgery can be up to 12 weeks in certain cases.
How long does it take for a tibial fracture to heal?
This injury usually results in the bone being displaced and is usually treated with surgery. Depending on the success of the surgery, healing could take from 6 to 12 weeks.
How to strengthen ankle joint?
After some time, and your ankle is load bearing, you could begin to implement exercises that introduce more weight and more specific movements to continue to build the strength of the joint as it heals. Some example exercises at this point include: 1 Sitting on a chair, with both feet on the ground, place your uninjured foot on top of the recovering foot, and try to lift the foot underneath. Use your top foot to prevent the lower foot from moving and provide something to push against. Repeat the movement by lifting up and down gently. 2 While sitting on the floor, attach a rubber exercise band to something solid, and hook it onto the toes of your injured foot. Move back far enough to create enough tension and begin to bend and straighten your ankle. 3 Sitting in a chair, cross you feet to press the outside of both feet together. Then press your feet together tightly and hold for 10 seconds.
How long does it take for an ankle fracture to heal?
Doing your exercises as prescribed can improve your chances of full recovery. Many ankle fractures take several months to heal completely, but you should be able to resume many activities before this time.
What are the risks of ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation?
Most people do very well with ORIF for their ankle fracture. However, some rare complications do occasionally happen. Possible complications include:
What is ORIF in ankle surgery?
If you fracture your ankle, you might need ORIF to bring your bones back into place and help them heal. During an open reduction, orthopedic surgeons reposition your bone pieces during surgery, so they are back in their proper alignment. In a closed reduction, a healthcare provider physically moves the bones back into place without surgically ...
What bones are in the ankle?
Three bones make up the ankle joint. These are the tibia (shinbone), the fibula (the smaller bone in your leg), and the talus (a bone in your foot). Different kinds of injury can damage the lower tibia, lower fibula, or talus. Only one of these bones might break, ...
How long after a leg surgery do you have to have stitches removed?
Make sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments. You may need to have your stitches or staples removed a week or so after your surgery.
How long does it take for an orthopedic surgeon to perform surgery?
An orthopedic surgeon will do the surgery aided by a team of healthcare professionals. The whole operation may take a few hours. In general, you can expect the following:
What is internal fixation?
Internal fixation refers to the method of physically reconnecting the bones. This might involve special screws, plates, rods, wires, or nails that the surgeon places inside the bones to fix them in the correct place. This prevents the bones from healing abnormally.
