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The ankle is one of the most commonly fractured joints in the body. The ankles bear the majority of your body weight and are vulnerable to rolling, twisting, colliding and other forms of harm that can cause one or more of the bones in these joints to fracture.
The risk for a broken ankle is higher in athletes and people with degenerative bone conditions like osteoporosis, but anyone can suffer from a broken ankle if they fall or are impacted in the wrong way.
Understanding ankle fractures
The ankle joint is primarily made up of three bones: the tibia, the fibula and the talus. The tibia is what’s known as your shinbone, the fibula is the thinner of the lower leg bones and the talus is a small bone in the ankle that supports the tibia and fibula.
Depending on how you injure your ankle, one or more of these bones can break, which is painful and inhibits the use of your ankle or foot. Causes of a broken ankle include:
- A traumatic impact, such as in sports or a motor vehicle accident
- Twisting or rolling your ankle
- Slipping, tripping, or falling
- A heavy object falling on your foot or ankle
If you experience severe pain, swelling, bruising and a limited range of motion in your foot or ankle after one of these injuries, you may have fractured one of your bones.
Broken ankle recovery time
The amount of time it takes to recover from a broken ankle varies depending on its severity. Factors like fracture type (full break or partial break), how many bones are broken, and your age and medical history all play a role in your recovery process.
Generally, it takes six to 12 weeks to recover from a broken ankle. For some, it may be shorter than this. For others, it may be longer.
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute for broken ankle treatment
Nobody should have to put up with a broken ankle for a long time. At the Florida Spine and Joint Institute, our orthopedic surgeons specialize in minimally invasive surgery for repairing broken ankles. Our team will guide you through your treatment and recovery process to provide the highest possible quality of recovery for you. Contact our team today for more information about broken ankle treatment or call us at (888) 966-9750 to schedule an initial appointment.
