Do I Have A Broken Ankle?

Have you injured your ankle in any way, such as falling and twisting your ankle, or being hit in the ankle by another person during a sports activity?

Have you heard a snapping or grinding noise in your ankle at the time of injury?

Did you have immediate, throbbing pain right after the injury?

Do you have swelling in your ankle?

Do you have bruises around your ankle?

Do you have restricted range of motion in your ankle?

Are you unable to walk or place weight on the affected ankle?

Do you feel tenderness when you touch the ankle?

Does your foot appear to be crooked (deformed)?

Do you have pain so intense that you feel dizzy?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a broken ankle. The ankle joint is made of three bones: the shinbone (tibia), the outer ankle bone (tibia) and the bone that connects the leg to the foot called the tragus.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a broken ankle. A broken ankle refers to a fracture or multiple fractures of bones in your ankle joint. Also, this injury often leads to the damage of the ligaments that connect the ankle bones to each other. There are several types of ankle fractures depending on which bone is broken and in how many places. Also, the fractures can be: nondisplaced (bones are fractured, but they are still in the right position) and displaced (broken parts of the bone are separated). An X-ray is required to differentiate a broken ankle from a sprain.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a broken ankle. A broken ankle is a fracture of one or more bones that make up the ankle joint. The severity of a broken ankle can range from tiny cracks in the bone to a massive fracture with separated bone parts. The ankle joint consists of three bones, and treatment will depend on how many bones are broken and the severity of the fracture. In mild cases of ankle fractures, your doctor may recommend a walking boot, cast, splint, or a non-surgical treatment called reduction. Severe ankle fractures usually require surgery.