I have an ankle fracture – Will I need surgery?

I have an ankle fracture – Will I need surgery?

If you have an ankle fracture, you might be wondering what treatment options you have. Many people are, understandably, afraid that they might need to undergo surgery to get their ankle fixed. This article will debunk common myths and discuss the usual anxieties surrounding ankle fractures before telling you the kind of treatments available to rehabilitate from an ankle fracture.

Ankle Fracture –  Overview

Your ankle is an articulation of three bones which are:

• The tibia (shin bone) – It forms inside, back, and front of your ankle.
• The fibula – It forms outside of your ankle.
• The Talus – It is a small bone president between the tibia, fibula, and the heel bone.

An ankle fracture, commonly known as a ‘broken ankle’, is one of the commonest sites for lower leg fractures. It means that one or more bones that form your ankle joint is fractured. An ankle fracture could be a simple breakage in one of the bones of your ankle, which may not stop you from walking. It may also occur in more than one bone, be displaced and therefore put you in bed for a few months.

In simplistic terms, the more bones you break in your ankle, the more unstable it becomes. Sometimes, a bone break can also be associated with ligament damage. The ligaments of the ankle are responsible for holding your ankle bones in their correct position.

People of all ages can suffer from ankle injuries. Ankle injuries are most common in people who are involved in sports and athletics like football, basketball, tennis, running, etc. Doctors have identified that those in the age range of 30 to 40 years are more prone to ankle injuries due to the balance of level of activity and ligament/bone strength.

What could cause a Broken Ankle?

A broken or fractured ankle is a break to the bony complex around the ankle. Usually, they occur as a result of sudden trauma. This includes a fall, sporting injuries, or a car accident. We have enlisted some everyday things that can cause an ankle fracture.

• Rolling, rotating, or twisting your ankle. (Usually, it occurs when you play sports like football, baseball, and tennis, etc.)
• A sudden slip or trip that causes you to land on your ankle and your whole body weight is shifted onto your ankle.
• An impact from a vehicle or a road accident.
• Coming straight down on your ankle when jumping or falling from a height.
• Dropping something bulky onto your ankle.

A study was conducted on around 10,000 patients that had ankle fractures. When they were asked about their injury, most of them stated two common reasons. 61% of people said that falls were the reason for their injury and 22% of people said that they broke their ankles during sports. Digging deep into the results, they found that the fractures occurred in two age groups more commonly. One in the young adults more active in sports, second in older people due to falls or slip injuries.

What Are Ankle Stress Fractures?

In some people, the ankle can sometimes break due to continuous stress and impact over time. An ankle or foot stress fracture can occur when a person starts a new activity that causes repetitive stress on the foot. They can also happen if a person has a rapid increase in a particular activity. Suppose someone plays football and he practices 2 hours every day, but suddenly he starts practicing 5-6 hours a day. Poor footwear, improper training surfaces and sometimes an inbalanced diet could also contribute to stress fractures around the foot.

What Are The Symptoms of An Ankle Fracture?

If someone has sustained a severe ankle sprain, it could feel very similar to an ankle fracture. Therefore it is essential to consult with an orthopedic doctor. Some critical signs and symptoms of an ankle fracture are as follows:

• Pain: it is the most common complaint when you break your ankle. Sometimes the pain does not come from the exact are of fracture, so it becomes difficult to tell if you have actually broken your ankle.
• Swelling: You may observe swelling around your ankle. You can use ice or anti-inflammatory medicines to treat swelling.
• Bruising: You might obverse black or blue bruising around your ankle. The bruising can go down the sole of your foot towards your toes.

Deformities: In some cases, you might observe some clear deformities of bones around your ankle.

Diagnosis of an Ankle Fracture

In a severe and unstable ankle fracture, surgery may be required to fix your ankle. In some cases, the broken bones of the ankle can poke out through your skin. Such fractures are known as ‘open’ ankle fractures, and surgery is mandatory to treat these fractures.

If you have a fracture, but the ankle is in a good position and remains stable, surgery may not be necessary. Treatment in a cast or a walker boot may be all that is necessary for stable ankle fractures. This could take between 3-4 months to fully heal and rehabilitate from.

Treatment of Ankle Fractures

As mentioned above, unstable ankle fractures require surgery to help stabilize them. Antibiotics are given to patients who are about to undergo ankle fracture surgery. Once the patient has gone under anesthesia, surgery can be performed safely. Doctors will make incisions through the skin of the ankle from where bones are broken. Implants may be used to hold the bones together again after repositioning them to the right position.

Once the ankle fracture is repaired, the patient’s leg is placed in a protective splint, cast, or boot. Some patients may be allowed to go home immediately after the surgery, and some may be kept in the hospital overnight. It all depends upon the severity of your injury and the treatment that has been rendered.

What are the principles behind ankle fracture surgery?

Ankle fracture surgery typically involves opening the skin, reducing the fracture to the correct position, and fixing it. In short, this is referred to as an ORIF. An incision is made to your ankle to see where the bones are fractured. The pieces of broken bones are placed together like a jigsaw puzzle(open reduction). The broken bones are then tightly held together using implants like plates or screws(Internal Fixation). The internal fixation provides you stability so you can start early movement even after a short time post-surgery. Your movement does depend upon the healing capabilities of your body. It can take a few weeks to heal your wounds and start your movements but physiotherapy can help accelerate this tremendously.

If you want to know more about ankle fractures and their latest treatment options, then please contact Dr. Gowreeson Thevendran or visit www.orthofootMD.com.