Broken Ankle

This is a difficult question to answer. The ankle is a complex joint that forms where three bones come together. The bones of the lower leg, the tibia and the fibula, are above the joint, and the talus is below the joint. When a doctor talks about an ankle fracture, he or she is usually talking about a broken bone of the tibia or fibula.

The tibia, also called the shin bone, is the larger, weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. Of the weight transferred through the leg, about 90% is carried by the tibia. The fibula is the smaller bone on the outside of the leg. It only carries about 10% of your body weight.

Both the tibia and the fibula wrap around the talus to form the ankle joint. The bony prominences at the ankle are called the medial malleolus (the end of the tibia) and the lateral malleolus (the end of the fibula). The ends of these bones for a cup for the talus to sit within.

The Broken Ankle

When a broken ankle occurs, the injury may be to the end of the tibia (the medial malleolus) or to the fibula (the lateral malleolus), or both. There are many different type of ankle fractures, and attempting to discuss them is the subject of textbooks, not pamphlets like this. The point is, every ankle fracture MUST be treated individually. You must see your doctor and go over the treatment plan with him or her.

There are some general treatment principles of ankle fractures that can be explained here. Common symptoms of an ankle fracture include:

• Pain to touch
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Inability to walk on the leg
• Deformity around the ankle

If an ankle fracture is suspected you should see your doctor or go to the emergency room. X-rays can be done to determine the extent of the injury. Other injuries may also occur around the ankle joint, including ankle sprains, Achilles tendon ruptures, and other problems that may be confused with a broken ankle. It is important to be properly evaluated so that a treatment plan can be developed.

Once the injury has been determined, a treatment plan is made that is appropriate for the type of ankle fracture. For more information about ankle fracture treatment:
Ankle Fracture Treatment

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