Broken ankle bones can involve any of the three bones that meet at this important juncture joining the leg to the foot: the tibia, fibula and talus. The break might involve a single minor crack in one bone, a full break of a bone or multiple cracks and breaks of more than one bone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, about 184 of every 100,000 Americans break an ankle every year.
Emergency Medical Treatment
When the bones of the ankle break, emergency treatment is required to set the bone and immobilize it to allow healing. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctor will X-ray the ankle to determine the extent of the break and might physically manipulate the bone to set it back in place if it has broken completely or if a piece of the bone has shifted. Once the bone is set or if the break is a fracture that doesn't require setting, the foot will be immobilized using a cast or brace to prevent it from shifting during healing.
Surgical Treatment
In some cases, surgery might be required to place pins or bolts into the ankle to hold the bones in place so that they don't shift during treatment. If the break is not treated promptly, surgery also might be used to realign bones that have begun to heal incorrectly.
Medication
Most people who experience a broken ankle will find it painful, even after the initial break is set. Over-the-counter pain relief from a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or NSAID, might be useful. If the broken ankle is causing more pain than over-the-counter remedies can mitigate, prescription pain relievers might be needed. Oxycodone or codeine are frequently prescribed to people with a broken ankle.
Rehabilitation
Physical therapy can help with the healing process after the cast or brace has been removed. Strengthening exercises are used to build up the muscles around the healing bone and give it more support. Rehabilitation after treatment for a broken ankle might also involve wearing special shoes or an ankle brace or bandage, especially when returning to activities such as sports.
Timing
The timeline of recovery from a broken ankle depends on both the severity of the break and which bones were affected. In most cases, the ankle will need at least six weeks of immobilization to heal properly. For many ankle fractures, normal activity can be resumed within about three to four months, although in some cases the ankle might need up to two years to heal completely. It might be many more months or years before the ankle is healed sufficiently to allow the patient to return to playing sports.
