Ankle Fracture Essay

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Introduction
An ankle fracture is a break in one or more of the three bones that make up the ankle joint. The ankle joint is made up by the lower (distal) sections of your lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) along with a bone in your foot (talus). Depending on how bad the break is and if more than one ankle joint bone is broken, a cast or splint is used to protect and keep your injured bone from moving while it heals. Sometimes, surgery is required to help the fracture heal properly.
There are two general types of ankle fractures:
Stable fracture. This includes a single fracture line through one bone, with no injury to ankle ligaments. A fracture of the talus that does not have any movement of the bone on either side of the fracture line (displacement) …show more content…

Participate in high-impact sports.
Are involved in a high-impact car accident.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Symptoms of this condition include:
Tender and swollen ankle.
Bruising around the injured ankle.
Pain when moving the ankle.
Trouble walking or putting weight on the ankle.
A cold foot below the site of the ankle injury. This can occur if the blood vessels passing through your injured ankle were also damaged.
Numbness in the foot below the site of the ankle injury.
How is this diagnosed?
An ankle fracture is usually diagnosed with a physical exam and X-rays. A CT scan may also be done.
How is this treated?
Treatment for this condition depends on the type of ankle fracture. Stable fractures are treated with a cast or splint and then crutches to avoid putting weight on the injured ankle. This is followed by an ankle strengthening program. Unstable fractures require surgery to ensure the bones heal properly.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a splint:
Wear the splint as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
Loosen the splint if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and

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