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ANKLE FRACTURE
During the past 30 years, doctors have noted an
increase in the number and severity of
broken ankles, due in part to an active,
older population of "baby boomers." More
than 1.3 million people visited
emergency rooms in 1998 because of ankle
problems. The ankle actually involves
two joints, one on top of the other. A
broken ankle can involve one or more
bones, as well as injuring the
surrounding connecting tissues
(ligaments).
Anatomy of the Ankle
When a Break Occurs
Any
one of the three bones that make up the
ankle joint could break as the result of
a fall, an automobile accident or some
other trauma to the ankle.
Because a severe sprain can often mask
the symptoms of a broken ankle, every
injury to the ankle should be examined
by a physician. Symptoms of a broken
ankle include:Immediate and severe pain,
Swelling, Bruising, Tender to the touch,
Inability to put any weight on the
injured foot., Deformity, particularly
if there is a dislocation as well as a
fracture.
A broken ankle may
also involve damage to the ligaments.
Your physician will order X-rays to find
the exact location of the break.
Sometimes, a CT (computed tomography)
scan or a bone scan will also be needed.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
If the fracture is stable , it can be
treated with a leg cast or brace.
Initially, a long leg cast may be
applied, which can later be replaced by
a short walking cast. It takes at least
six weeks for a broken ankle to heal,
and it may be several months before you
can return to sports at your previous
competitive level. Your physician will
probably schedule additional X-rays
while the bones heal, to make sure that
changes or pressures on the ankle don't
cause the bones to shift. If the
ligaments are also torn, or if the
fracture created a loose fragment of
bone that could irritate the joint,
surgery may be required to "fix" the
bones together so they will heal
properly. I may use a plate, metal or
absorbable screws, staples or tension
bands to hold the bones in place.
Usually, there are few complications,
although there is a higher risk among
diabetic patients and those who smoke.
Afterwards, I will prescribe a program
of rehabilitation and strengthening.
Range of motion exercises are important,
but keeping weight off the ankle is just
as important. A child who breaks an
ankle should be checked regularly for up
to two years to make sure that growth
proceeds properly, without deformity or
uneven leg-length.
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