Ankle Fractures: When Is Surgery Necessary?
More than five million ankle breaks occur in the U.S. every year. They are usually the result of a direct impact due to a sports injury, auto accident, or a high-impact fall on the foot.
Non-invasive treatments, such as rest, icing, and/or physical therapy, can usually get you back on your feet. But if your break is severe or multiple bones are impacted, surgery may be necessary.
The foot and ankle surgeons at Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center in Phoenix and Maricopa, Arizona, always opt for conservative treatments first. But if your injury calls for surgery, these are the experts you want on your team.
In this month’s blog, they explain when surgery is the best choice for an ankle fracture.
Ankle fractures 101
Your ankle joint connects the two bones in the lower part of your leg (tibia and fibula) to the small bone between the lower leg bones and the heel bone (talus). The tibia and fibula have different parts that comprise the ankle joint. These include:
- Medial malleolus: The bump on the inside of your ankle (tibia)
- Posterior malleolus: Back part of the tibia
- Lateral malleolus: The bump on the outer part of your ankle (fibula).
The first step in determining whether your ankle pain results from a break and, if so, how severe is getting an X-ray. Sprains and breaks have similar symptoms, and an X-ray is the only way to know what’s going on.
When an ankle fracture requires surgery
The type of ankle fracture is one factor in determining how to care for your injury. The position of the broken bones plays a role in deciding whether you need surgery.
The terms non-displaced, displaced, or open fracture describe the positioning of the broken pieces.
Non-displaced fracture
A non-displaced ankle fracture occurs when your bones are barely out of place. Hairline and stress fractures are nondisplaced breaks. In such instances, surgery is usually not necessary.
Displaced fracture
A displaced ankle fracture occurs when broken pieces of bone are out of alignment. This may include a dislocation of the joint. Ankle surgery is usually necessary to properly align the bones for healing.
Open fracture
An open ankle fracture occurs when bone pierces the skin. This type of fracture requires surgery to reset the bones and reduce the risk of infection.
Your Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center provider may also recommend ankle surgery for a fracture that hasn’t healed properly and continues to cause a visible deformity or pain.
What to expect during ankle surgery
Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center providers customize each patient’s ankle surgery plan based on the type and severity of their injury. When repairing a broken ankle, they perform open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).
During an ORIF, the surgeon realigns the bones so they’re in the proper position and uses pins, screws, or plates to hold them in place as the fracture heals. They immobilize the ankle with a cast or walking boot after surgery. You need to limit weight-bearing activities for a time so the bones can heal.
Recovering from an ankle fracture takes several weeks or months and requires physical therapy to restore mobility and strength.
For an ankle fracture and all your foot and ankle care needs, book a consultation with the experts at Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center. Call the closest location or request an appointment using the online booking tool.