Broken ankle/broken foot
Definition:
A broken ankle or broken foot is a common injury. You may experience a broken ankle or broken foot during a car crash or from a simple misstep. The seriousness of a broken ankle or broken foot varies. Fractures can range from tiny cracks in your bones to shattering breaks that pierce your skin.
Treatment for a broken ankle or broken foot depends on the exact site and severity of the fracture. A severely broken ankle or broken foot may require surgery to implant wires, plates, rods or screws into the broken bone to maintain proper position during healing.
Symptoms:
If you have a broken ankle or broken foot, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the pain and swelling last for more than a few days, or if pain interferes with walking.
Causes:
The most common causes of a broken ankle or a broken foot include:
Complications :
Complications of a broken ankle or broken foot are uncommon, but may include:
Treatments for a broken ankle or broken foot will vary, depending on which bone has been broken and the severity of the injury.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). If you're experiencing a lot of pain, your doctor may prescribe a medication containing a narcotic, such as oxycodone (Percocet, Roxicet) or hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab).
Therapy
After your bone has healed, you'll probably need to loosen up stiff muscles and ligaments in your ankles and feet. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to improve your flexibility and strength.
Surgical and other procedures
Definition:
A broken ankle or broken foot is a common injury. You may experience a broken ankle or broken foot during a car crash or from a simple misstep. The seriousness of a broken ankle or broken foot varies. Fractures can range from tiny cracks in your bones to shattering breaks that pierce your skin.
Treatment for a broken ankle or broken foot depends on the exact site and severity of the fracture. A severely broken ankle or broken foot may require surgery to implant wires, plates, rods or screws into the broken bone to maintain proper position during healing.
Symptoms:
If you have a broken ankle or broken foot, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Immediate, throbbing pain
- Pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Deformity
- Difficulty in walking or bearing weight
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the pain and swelling last for more than a few days, or if pain interferes with walking.
Causes:
The most common causes of a broken ankle or a broken foot include:
- Car accidents. The crushing injuries common in car accidents may require surgical repair.
- Falls. Tripping and falling can break bones in your
ankles or feet, as can landing on your feet after jumping down from a
great height.
- Impact from a heavy weight. Dropping something heavy on your foot is a common cause of fractures.
- Missteps. Sometimes just putting your foot down
wrong can result in a broken bone. Many broken toes have happened when
people stub their toes on furniture. Twisting your ankle just right can
cause a sprain or a broken bone.
- Overuse. Stress fractures are common in the weight-bearing bones of your ankles or feet. These tiny cracks are usually caused over time by repetitive force or overuse, such as running long distances. But they can also occur with normal use of a bone that's been weakened by a condition such as osteoporosis.
Complications :
Complications of a broken ankle or broken foot are uncommon, but may include:
- Arthritis. Fractures that extend into the joint can
cause arthritis years later. If your ankle or foot starts to hurt long
after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation.
- Bone infection (osteomyelitis). If you have an open fracture, your bone may be exposed to bacteria that cause infection.
- Compartment syndrome. This neuromuscular condition
causes pain, swelling and sometimes disability in affected muscles of
the legs or arms. Compartment syndrome usually occurs in high-impact
injuries, such as a car or motorcycle accident.
- Nerve or blood vessel damage. Trauma to the foot or ankle can injure adjacent nerves and blood vessels. Seek immediate attention if you notice any numbness or circulation problems. Lack of blood flow can cause a bone to die and collapse.
Treatments for a broken ankle or broken foot will vary, depending on which bone has been broken and the severity of the injury.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). If you're experiencing a lot of pain, your doctor may prescribe a medication containing a narcotic, such as oxycodone (Percocet, Roxicet) or hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab).
Therapy
After your bone has healed, you'll probably need to loosen up stiff muscles and ligaments in your ankles and feet. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to improve your flexibility and strength.
Surgical and other procedures
- Reduction. If you have a displaced fracture, your
doctor may need to manipulate the pieces back into their proper
positions — a process called reduction. Depending on the amount of pain
and swelling you have, you may need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or
even a general anesthetic before this procedure.
- Immobilization. To heal, a broken bone must be
immobilized so that its ends can knit back together. In most cases, this
requires a cast. Minor foot fractures may only need a removable brace
or shoe with a stiff sole. A fractured toe is usually taped to a
neighboring toe, with a piece of gauze between them.
- Surgery. In some cases, a surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to maintain proper position of your bones during healing. These materials may be removed after the fracture has healed if they are prominent or painful.
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