A broken ankle, or ankle fracture, is a break in one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. Ankle fractures typically result from falls or high-impact injuries that involve twisting or rolling the ankle. Depending on the type of fracture, surgery may be needed to realign the bones to allow them to heal.
Ankle Fractures
The ankle joint is made up of three different bones. An ankle fracture can be simple, affecting only one bone, or complex, involving many parts of the ankle joint. X-rays help determine if surgical or nonsurgical treatment is needed.
Proper alignment of the bones is needed for a broken ankle to heal. The type of fracture will help determine which treatment is best. Some ankle fractures can heal with a cast or boot, while others may require surgery to stabilize the bones.
Metal plates, screws, and rods can be used to hold the broken bones in place to stabilize an ankle fracture. These may be positioned on the back, outer, or inner sides of the ankle joint depending on where the ankle is fractured.
To repair an ankle fracture, incisions will typically be made along both sides of the ankle joint. This allows the surgeon to access the fracture and stabilize the bones.
