What are the symptoms of an Ankle Fracture?

Ankle injuries are the most common injuries to bones and joints. This results in an inability to walk, constant pain, and limited lifestyle activities. Generally, the need to approach an orthopedic surgeon arises when ankle bone gets broken.  But some people still have confusion about the condition of the ankle and do delay in approaching the doctor. This is not the right way to treat the condition, because the condition will get worse with time if left untreated. Let’s discuss it in more detail.

Composition of the Ankle Joint

The ankle joint has three bones coming together. It includes the tibia, fibula, and the far end of the tibia and fibula.

• The tibia is the main bone of the lower leg that forms the medial, or inside, ankle joint.

• The fibula is the smaller bone parallel to the tibia in the lower leg and makes up the outside or lateral part of the ankle joint.

• The far end of the tibia and fibula are considered malleoli and together form the arch, which is among one of the bones in the foot.

Types of Ankle Fracture

Different ankle fracture types are also there. This includes:

Fibula Only Fracture

Fibula-only fracture is a condition when a bony lump on the outside of the ankle gets broken. It majorly happens when you twist your ankle forcefully. It has a major impact on the outer leg and is among the most common types of ankle fractures.

Tibia Only Fracture

The only factor is the condition when the tibia or shin bone only breaks down. This happens due to a high-energy impact like a car accident or a fall from a height.

Bimalleolar Ankle Fracture

Bimalleolar ankle fracture is the condition when both the fibula on the outside of the ankle and the base of the tibia inside the ankle break down. This majorly happens due to high-impact injuries like road traffic accidents and falls.

Trimalleolar Fractures

Trimalleolar fracture is the condition when the back of the tibia and shinbone are broken off. This also majorly happens due to the high energy impact.

Maisonneuve Fracture

Maisonneuve fracture is a condition that many people mistake for an ankle sprain, but it is not. It happens due to rolling over or twisting the ankle and causing the fibula to fracture higher up towards the knee. This can be diagnosed with an x-ray only.

How Does an Ankle Fracture Happen?

Ankle fractures are caused by a severe twisting or turning force directly damaging the ligament connecting the bone to the lower leg to the foot. These injuries appear to be complicated to treat. So, one does not approach the orthopedic specialist immediately. Some other common causes are:

• Flexing or extending the joint

• Rolling the ankle in or out

• Applying severe force to the joint

• Side-to-side ankle twisting

Ankle Fracture Symptoms

Ankle fracture symptoms indicating that you need to approach the doctor are as follows:-

• Constant pain in the ankle

• Pain in the lower leg

• Experiencing pain in the knee.

• Swelling around the ankle

• Blood clotted around the joint

• Bruising around the joint

• Deformities of the bones around the ankle

• Encounter with actually exposed bone

• Stretched skin underlying a broken bone.

• Difficulty in moving

• No medication is helping out

• Not be able to put any weight on the injured foot.

Ankle Fracture Diagnosis

The imaging techniques are generally the most effective for diagnosing ankle fractures. This includes:

• X-RAY

• Stress tests: (Stress test is also known as torture test in which the surgeon let a person to practice some physical moves helpful in diagnosing the ankle condition )

• MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

• CT-scan

Note: After diagnosis, the doctor decides on the treatment. Sometimes non-surgical treatments are the best to consider, and sometimes they are not. It depends on the type of ankle fracture and the extent of the injury.

Treatment for Ankle Fracture:

The treatment for ankle fracture entirely depends on the extent of the injury. If the injury is minor, doctors will not suggest surgery instead they go for compressions. But if the injury is major, surgery is the only option left. Apart from it, some common treatments to consider include:-

• Rest: Resting is one of the most important aspects of recovery. It will help healing go faster by removing the activity that could damage tissue and cause more inflammation. You may be required to wear a cast after an injury but this will keep your foot immobilized and improve the condition.

• Ice: Icing is an easy and non-invasive treatment that can help with swelling and inflammation while you chill it for 20 minutes at a time. You can do this every 40 minutes.

• Compression: Wrapping the injury helps ensure that swelling doesn’t get worse or too severe.

• Elevation: Raising your foot slightly above your ankle will help to reduce inflammation in the lower leg.

When to Approach a Doctor?

When you are dealing with an injured ankle, first determine whether there is any need to approach the doctor or not. Some common indications that indicate there is a need to approach a doctor include:-

• A constant or throbbing pain is interfering with your lifestyle.

• You are not able to move properly.

• Home remedies are not suitable.

In general, if you have noticed any ankle injury, approach the doctor immediately, because sometimes home remedies can worsen the case. According to research, 35% of people who pay attention to home remedies instead of medical attention lately deal with ankle problems majorly.

Most Asked Question

• Is it possible to walk with a fractured ankle?

If the ankle fracture is minor, then you can only walk. But if it is severe, walking is not an option as it may worsen the condition.

• Is it possible to move your toes after an ankle fracture?

Some people think that they can wiggle their toes and move their ankles around after having an ankle injury. But if the fracture is there, this is not possible because the nerves and muscles responsible for allowing the movement have an effect due to it.

Whom to Approach?

If you are in a confusion about whom to approach, don’t be because medical facilities are easily accessible and you can easily find a doctor. Well, if you are in Jaipur or in a nearby area, approach the ML Spine and Orthopaedic Centre the best orthopedic hospital in Jaipur to get the treatment.

You will find the best orthopedic specialist with years of experience treating such conditions right here. Discuss the problems in detail with them so that they can understand the condition in detail and suggest the best possible medication for it.