Ankle Fractures

When a broken ankle occurs, the fracture may be to the end of the tibia bone, the fibula, or the talus bone. It may be difficult to diagnose an ankle fracture over a sprain, dislocation, or a tendon injury. Ankle fractures can occur with simultaneous tears of the ankle ligaments. There are several different type of ankle fractures, and each type must be treated individually.

What Causes an Ankle Fracture?

Ankle fractures are becoming more common, especially in athletes that play certain sports. When you stress an ankle joint beyond the strength of its elements, you injure the joint. If only the ligaments give way and tear, you have sprained the ankle. If a bone gives way and breaks, you have an ankle fracture.

Fractures of the ankle range from relatively minor twisting injuries to those that are associated with violent disruptions of the ankle joint. There are two different mechanisms of injury that have different effects on the structure of the ankle. The first one is where there is a twisting mechanism and the body rotates around the foot. The other is where there is a crushing type mechanism that impacts the foot. You can fracture an ankle in several ways.

• Extreme rolling of the ankle in or out
• Severe twisting of the ankle from side to side
• Extreme flexing or extending of the ankle joint
• Severe force applied to the joint as in jumping from a high level

Symptoms of Ankle Fracture

Pain is the most common symptom of an ankle fracture. Often, the pain will not come from the exact area of the fracture. Symptoms may include:

• Pain around the ankle or foot
• Swelling around the ankle joint
• Bruising ("black and blue")
• Inability to walk on the foot or leg
• Deformities of bones around the ankle
• Inability to move the ankle, foot or toes
• Exposed bone around the ankle or lower leg

In severe ankle fractures there may be obvious deformities of bones around the ankle. The skin may be stretched over an underlying broken bone. There may be an exposed bone that has ruptured the skin. There could be an injury to the nerves or blood vessels that supply the foot, causing even more pain, numbness, or inability to move the foot or toes. If an ankle fracture is suspected, you should see your doctor or go to the emergency room at a hospital.

Ankle fractures usually require a professional medical diagnosis to determine if there is a broken bone. Other injuries may also occur around the ankle joint, including sprains, Achilles tendon ruptures, and other trauma that may be confused with a broken ankle. Diagnostic tools such as X-rays can help determine the existence of an ankle fracture and reveal any associated injuries to the ankle or the foot.