Ankle Fracture

If you sustain an ankle fracture due to a car accident or a sports injury, seek treatment immediately. Immobilization or surgery can prevent the damage from worsening and encourage your body’s healing process. At Austin Foot & Ankle Institute, in Austin and Bee Cave, Texas, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Pedro E. Cosculluela, MD specializes in ankle fracture treatment. He performs more than 70 ankle fracture surgeries each year and has been involved in designing hardware used to repair complex ankle fractures. Call the nearest office to request an ankle fracture consultation today, or make an appointment online.

What is an ankle fracture?

An ankle fracture occurs when you break one or more of the three bones in your ankle joint. Most ankle fractures happen because of an injury, but they can also occur due to general wear-and-tear.

If you hurt your ankle and it’s painful, swollen, or hard to use, contact Austin Foot & Ankle Institute. Dr. Cosculluela can determine the fracture’s severity and help you return to your pre-injury activity levels.

What are the symptoms of an ankle fracture?

Symptoms of an ankle fracture include:

• Intense, throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Deformity of the ankle
• Tenderness
• Difficulty walking or putting weight on the affected foot

Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, you might have a visible abnormality, like a bump or a piece of bone sticking through your skin.

Should I see a doctor about an ankle fracture?

Make an appointment with Dr. Cosculluela if you sustain an ankle injury and it doesn’t improve with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medicine. That’s particularly true if you have swelling, a visible deformity, or mobility problems.

How is an ankle fracture diagnosed?

Dr. Cosculluela will review your health charts and asks about your injury, including when it occurred, what it feels like, and if the pain extends into your leg or foot. 

Next, he will examine your ankle, checking for redness, bruising, and swelling. Your doctor moves your foot in several different positions, testing its range of motion. They also have you walk back and forth a few times, observing your gait and posture.

Radiographs of your ankle with be obtained during your visit. There’s an X-ray machine onsite, but they may refer you to a radiology facility for more specialized tests, such as a bone scan, an MRI, or a CT scan.

How is an ankle fracture treated?

Treatment for an ankle fracture depends on its location and severity. Dr. Cosculluela recommends conservative measures whenever possible, including:

• Immobilization, with a cast or a splint
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
• Physical therapy
• Reduction (moving your bones back into their proper positions)

If you have a severe fracture and a bone breaks into several pieces, your doctor may recommend surgery. During ankle repair surgery, they use pins, plates, or screws to hold your bones together, speeding up your body’s healing process.

Call the nearest Austin Foot & Ankle Institute office to receive treatment for an ankle fracture today, or make an appointment online.