Ankle Fracture
Description
The tibia, fibula and talus are the three bones that make up the ankle. When one or more of them breaks, the result is a broken ankle, also known as ankle fracture. Read on to learn how it’s diagnosed and treated.
Causes & Triggers
- Accident
- Fall
- Injury
- Misstep
Signs & Symptoms
- Bruising
- Deformity
- Difficulty walking
- Inability to bear much, or any, weight
- Increased pain with activity; decreased with rest
- Sudden, throbbing pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Trouble putting on or taking off shoe
Tips & Treatment
- Multiple ligaments from bone to ankle create a stable, secure joint.
- A snapping sound or feeling is not a definitive sign of fracture.
- Like ankle sprain, the severity of ankle fracture varies.
- A fracture diagnosis can indicate anything from small, tiny bone cracks to a compound, bone-sticking-through-the-skin break.
- Physicians classify ankle fractures by the bone that breaks:
- Broken fibula = lateral malleolus fracture
- Broken tibia and fibula = bimalleolar fracture
