Ankle Fracture Definition:

As the name of the injury would suggest an ankle fracture is when one of the ankle bones breaks or fractures. With ankle fractures you can have either a bimalleolar fracture which is when there is a break on both sides of the ankle. You can also have single bone or sometimes called lateral or medial malleolar fracture as well. Typically you will see the break or fracture point on the lower ends of either the tibia or fibula and in the case of a bimalleolar ankle fracture both the tibia and fibula ends will be broken.

Parts Affected by Ankle Fracture:

Tibia Bone
Fibula Bone
Talus Bone
Soft tissues surrounding the fracture site such as muscle, nerve, and blood vessels
Ligaments of the ankle joint
Tendons

Ankle Fracture Signs & Symptoms:

Intense ankle pain
Feeling a popping or breaking sensation in the ankle
Sometimes the sound of the bone breaking can be heard
Immediate reaction to fall to the ground and get off the foot
Pain when fracture site is palpated
Will be a clearly visible deformity of the ankle

Ankle Fracture Risks Factors:

Direct blows to the ankle especially on the side of the ankle
Sports or physical activities that require sudden changes in direction like football and basketball
Running on hard surfaces such as concrete
Bad nutrition that decreases bone density
Previous ankle injuries
Improper footwear that does not provide enough support to stop the ankle from rolling over

Ankle Fracture Prevention:

Build up the strength of the lower leg muscles, as they help to stabilize the ankle joint
Warm up properly before any physical activity or sport
Use proper footwear that provides the right amount of ankle support for the activity or sport you are doing
If you have a history of ankle fractures or ankle sprains then you should tape your ankle for further support