If it gets better, continue to follow RICE Guidelines and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication if necessary. You may have a broken ankle, and you should contact your doctor right away, if you notice any of the following symptoms:. Often, the only way to know for sure whether your ankle is sprained or broken is to get an xray. Broken Ankle Vs. Sprained Ankle: When to Call Your Doctor Ankle sprains and breaks are common among athletes and weekend warriors however, ankle injuries can affect people of all ages and activity levels.
Sprained Ankle A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that join the bones of the ankle. There are some signs to look out for, however, that indicate your ankle may be fractured, including:.
If you think your ankle might be broken, stay off it! Using your ankle after breaking it can make the condition worse and even lead to long-term complications. While you wait for your appointment, ice your ankle and keep it elevated to reduce swelling and pain.
Schedule an exam by calling the office location nearest you, or request an appointment using our online booking tool now.
Are you struggling with the pain, swelling, and irritation that tendonitis brings? This condition can stop you in your tracks. 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 mile marathon.
Stress fractures can occur in any of the three ankle bones, especially the tibia or fibula. They are also common in the navicular bone, which is separate from the ankle, but lies directly beneath the talus. 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.
The lower portion of the tibia forms the roof and medial inside of the ankle, while the lower portion of the fibula forms the lateral outside and posterior back of the ankle. As the number of fracture lines increase, so does the risk of long-term joint damage. Trimalleolar ankle fractures and pilon fractures have the most cartilage injury and, therefore, have a higher risk of arthritis in the future. A Maisonneuve fracture, for example, involves a complete disruption of the ligaments around the ankle associated with a fracture of the fibula at the level of the knee.
For this type of injury, an ankle X-ray may not show a fracture or demonstrate the instability associated with this injury, because the actual bone fracture is well above the ankle, and the ligament injuries can only be seen with other forms of imaging, such as an MRI. X-ray image showing front view of a bimalleolar fracture. X-ray image showing side view of a displaced lateral malleolus fracture of the right 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. 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. If the imaging shows that a person has a fractured ankle, he or she should consult an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible.
There are several different types of ankle breaks, and not all require surgery. If the growth plate is damaged, it could produce bone spurs and arthritis and prematurely halt bone growth.
Improved therapies and surgical approaches continue to offer solutions for complicated cases, produce better results and are available to a wider range of patients:. A A A Print Share. Ankle Fractures Often Not Diagnosed. Printed from FootHealthFacts.
0コメント