Ankle Fractures

A fracture is a break in one of your bones. Fractures can be described as partial or complete. They can also be further described as non-displaced (good alignment between the bones), minimally displaced (mild shift between the bones) or displaced (bones out of alignment). The ankle joint is comprised of 3 primary bones: the tibia, the fibula, and the talus. An ankle fracture typically refers to a break in the one or more of these bones. There are numerous types of ankle fractures you could have including avulsion fractures, fibular fractures, bimalleolar fractures, trimalleolar fractures and pilon fractures. It is vital to have proper evaluation of your injury. Location and severity of the fracture(s) has a significant impact on the type of treatment that is best for you. It is important to understand that not all ankle fractures are the same!

If you suffered a fracture, you may be experiencing significant pain, discomfort, swelling, bruising, deformity, and the inability to walk. This can stem from direct trauma (car accidents etc.), trips, falls, a rolled ankle on uneven surfaces or from sports. We encourage you to seek evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. Left untreated, this can lead to severe arthritis, soft tissue damage, nerve or vessel damage, infection (with open fractures), compartment syndrome, malunion, nonunion, and persistent dysfunction. Evaluation typically starts with ankle X-rays and clinical evaluation. Depending on the severity, advanced imaging studies such as a CT scan may be recommended. Your specialist will then recommend an optimal treatment course.

The type, location, and severity of the fracture will dictate whether conservative (splinting, casting, fracture boot etc.) or surgical measures are recommended. If surgery is recommended to you, we want you to know that our priority is your health and educating you on all the pros and cons. Our physicians specialize in both internal and external fixation for ankle fractures. Our specialists may even be able to fix your fracture utilizing minimally invasive techniques!

Regardless of the type of intervention, our goal is to reduce your pain, heal your fracture appropriately, and get your back to the activity you want as soon as possible. We understand that this is a difficult decision, and we are here to help. Come see our specialists today for proper evaluation and treatment.