We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Medicine

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Treat an Ankle Fracture?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,089
Share

An ankle fracture occurs when one of the ankle's bones is broken. Any break has the potential for healing incorrectly if it is not treated properly and right away, and in most circumstances, people without medical training are not qualified to provide the right treatment. Moreover, unless the fracture is open with the bone sticking out, it’s impossible to tell degree of damage, and expert medical advice is needed to diagnose the fracture's severity. It’s recommended that people treat an ankle fracture by providing preliminary support and then proceeding to the nearest medical facility or getting emergency help if the fracture is open and appears to require immediate treatment.

The person should not keep standing on the broken ankle, but the degree to which he/she can stand on the affected leg may say something about the level of injury. Not being able to bear weight on the fractured leg is an indication of severe sprains and most breaks. It helps, when possible, to have the person lie down and elevate the foot, particularly when unsure about the level of injury. In most cases these decisions should be only preparatory to arranging transport to a hospital.

Most people should not attempt to create a splint to treat an ankle fracture if medical help is nearby. If the fracture is open, washing and covering the wound with anything but sterile cloths is also not advised, unless medical help is far away. In virtually all cases, if a fracture is suspected, the only treatment should be safely getting a person to the hospital, either by car or via emergency transport if the injury looks severe.

It is especially important that people treat an ankle fracture right away, if the wound is open or if the ankle no longer looks straight and is clearly bent in some way. These injuries need immediate reduction and may require surgery. Additionally, people with these kinds of fractures may be in very serious pain and alleviating that pain as soon as possible is an excellent goal.

In medical settings, doctors can treat an ankle fracture in a variety of ways. The type of fracture and its severity tend to be diagnosed with x-rays or other scans. After diagnosis, doctors determine treatment.

When doctors treat an ankle fracture, this could include resetting a bone, surgically or non-surgically. Profound and open fractures almost always require surgery. Once a bone is set, people may wear casts or braces to immobilize the ankle for many weeks until bone healing is complete. With severe injury some people will need to remain in a cast for a long time, and might require pain relief support or physical therapy to fully regain range of motion.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Heavanet — On Sep 18, 2014

Anyone who thinks that he or she has an ankle fracture should never risk walking on it. Get off it immediately and get to a doctor. Otherwise, continuing to walk on a potentially fractured ankle could result in the need for surgery to correct instead of just a cast.

By Ocelot60 — On Sep 17, 2014

The biggest mistake that people who have had ankle fractures make is that they rush their recovery time and end up doing activities that they shouldn't do. Any kind of activity that puts weight on the ankle before a doctor says that it is o.k. is a bad idea.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-treat-an-ankle-fracture.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.