Due to the number of bones in the ankle, the severity of an ankle fracture can vary dramatically from injury to injury. In some cases where just a single bone is fractured, a person may be able to continue walking. If several bones are fractured, a patient may not be able to put weight on the ankle for several months.
Broken ankles are most commonly the result of rotating, rolling or twisting the ankle at an unnatural angle, tripping or forceful impacts, such as in a car accident. There are many sports or even daily activities that can potentially lead to ankle fractures.
Whether or not surgery is required to address a broken ankle depends primarily on stability. If just one bone is broken and it’s not out of place or just slightly out of place, the ankle should be stable enough for nonsurgical treatment.
The location of the broken bone can also be a determining factor for treatment method. These treatments can range from wearing high-top tennis shoes to having a short leg cast put on to stabilize the ankle. Frequent checkups will be required to ensure the bone does not move out of place during healing.
If the broken bone in the ankle is out of place or multiple fractures in the ankle have made it unstable, ankle surgery may be necessary to reposition the bones into their proper alignment. Special screws and metal plates will be attached to the surface of the bones to keep them in place during healing.
Dr. Barbour can use arthroscopy to perform ankle fracture repairs and promote better, faster healing and improved post-recovery ankle stability.