Know your Ankle Fractures

“Did you break your leg jumping?” “No, landing.”

This is a popular joke among parachuters whose risks for fractures to their lower limbs including their ankles are higher than the general population.

Or as we say: Jump from an airplane even with a parachute and Bob’s your uncle! Your risks for an ankle fracture just went through the roof.

But the risk for a broken ankle should not be a reason to avoid activities that involve jumping from any height. The trick is in gathering reliable information about ankle fractures and then dealing with them, if and when these happen.

Know Your Ankle

Your ankle is a complex joint formed by three bones coming together. The tibia and fibula, the bones of the lower leg, are located above the joint while the talus is below the joint.

The shin bone (i.e., tibia) carries 90% of the weight transferred to the leg because of its larger size while the fibula carries only 10% of body weight. Both the tibia and fibula wrap around the talus, thus, forming the ankle joint.

Differentiate Between Fractures

Your doctor will use x-rays and physical examination to determine which of the two types of ankle fractures your case falls into, namely: (Note: The basis for the classification is the movement of the tibia in relation to the ends of the tibia and fibula)

• Stable fracture. The movement of the talus remains unchanged.
• Unstable fracture. The unnatural movement of the talus means that the joint becomes asymmetrical in its position.

Differentiating the two is important because the treatment approaches are different. In an unstable fracture, for example, more invasive treatment (i.e., surgery) is necessary for complete recovery from the injury.

Furthermore, the location of the fracture determines the best treatment for it. Doctors usually classify fractures of the ankle into three main types, namely:

• Lateral malleolus fractures involve only the fibula, the most common type. Most of these ankle fractures can be treated with non-surgical means but certain conditions (e.g., the ankle joint remains stable) must be met; otherwise, surgery is recommended usually when the fracture exceeds 4 centimeters at the end of the bone.
• Medial malleolus fractures involve only the tibia, an uncommon injury. These are treated with surgery because of the extent of the damage and the importance of the bone in bearing the weight of the body.
• Bimalleolar ankle fractures involve both the tibia and fibula – or both the inner and outer sides of the ankle. Surgery will generally be recommended because of the unstable ankle joint.

As with most fractures, ankle fractures are characterized by pain in the injured area especially when touched, swelling and bruising as well as deformity around the joint and inability to walk on the affected leg. Regardless of the type of fracture, certain measures should be undertaken to minimize worsening the injury such as ice and elevation, immobilization, the use of crutches.

If you have any question or concerns feel free to call 888-719-8484 or visit any of our locations, such as our Garden Grove Office near Stanton, Santa Ana, and Westminster.

About Healthpointe:

Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles county, Orange county, San Bernardino county and Riverside county). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Irwindale, which is conveniently located near Duarte, Azusa, West Covina, Vincent, and Mayflower Village. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit healthpointe.net