A broken ankle---also called an ankle fracture---is a fairly common injury. After all, just getting up and walking puts a lot of pressure on this joint. If you trip, fall, drop something on your foot, or take a wrong step, you can twist or roll over onto your ankle, often causing either a sprain or a fracture. Auto accidents are another frequent cause of ankle injuries.
People who are osteoporotic or overweight, those who participate in high-impact sports or use poorly constructed exercise equipment, and those who are employed in construction or similar industries are at greater risk of fracturing an ankle.
Immediate Signs You May Have an Ankle Fracture
Sometimes if you twist or roll over your ankle you will hear a snapping sound. This doesn't necessarily mean you have broken your ankle. You'll also want to watch for other symptoms, including: immediate excruciating pain that tends to get worse with activity, but improves if you rest your foot; difficulty bearing weight on your foot; and obvious wounds, such as a laceration or even a piece of bone sticking out.
Additional Signs
In addition to the symptoms listed above, you will generally find that your ankle will soon become swollen and bruising may occur. The ankle will also be markedly tender, especially right at the site of the fracture, and you may even notice a bulge or other deformity there.
Diagnostic Signs
In spite of the frequency of ankle injuries, many are sprains rather than fractures. Of course, a severe cut or a bone protruding from your ankle obviously requires immediate attention, but it's a good idea to have a speedy examination of any ankle injury that is accompanied by immediate pain, swelling, bruising and the inability to bear weight.
An X-ray is the primary tool for diagnosing a broken ankle, but for some fractures, such as stress or non-displaced fractures, the break may not show up immediately. Therefore, you may need a bone scan, MRI, CT scan or even just a follow-up X-ray to determine the type and degree of your ankle injury.
As with other bony injuries, suspected ankle fractures are best diagnosed and treated by a specialist, such as an orthopedist or foot specialist.
Preventing ankle fractures
To avoid ankle fractures, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you wear proper shoes and replace athletic shoes regularly; start slowly when taking on new physical activities or workouts and alternate activities to prevent stress fractures; eat calcium-rich foods to build bone strength; and use a night light to avoid tripping over objects in the dark, a very common cause of all sorts of broken bones.
