How long is recovery for a broken ankle

Q: Can I walk after 3 weeks of ankle fracture?

For most people, its after about two to six weeks although it may be less or more depending on the type and severity of your fracture. Its crucial to adhere to your doctors orders not to put any weight on your leg too early as walking on a broken ankle too early can prevent it from healing.

Ankle injuries are among the most common of the bone and joint injuries. Often, the degree of pain, the inability to walk, or concern that a bone may be broken is what might cause you to seek care in an emergency situation.

Índice Show

Ankle Fracture Causes
Ankle Fracture Symptoms
When to Seek Medical Care
Exams and Tests
Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home
Medical Treatment
How long does it take to walk after a broken ankle?
Do you ever fully recover from a broken ankle?
Can I walk after 3 weeks of ankle fracture?
How long do you stay in hospital after broken ankle?

For the most part, your concern is the same as the doctor's: Is there a broken bone? It is often impossible to diagnose a fracture (broken bone) rather than a sprain, a dislocation, or tendon injury without X-rays of the ankle.

The ankle joint is made up of 3 bones coming together.
- The tibia, which is the main bone of the lower leg, makes up the medial, or inside, of the ankle joint. .
- The fibula is a smaller bone that parallels the tibia in the lower leg and makes up the lateral, or outside, of the ankle joint.
- The far ends of both the tibia and fibula are known as the malleoli (singular is malleolus). Together they form an arch that sits on top of the talus, one of the bones in the foot.
These 3 bones (tibia, fibula, and talus) make up the bony elements of the ankle joint.
A fibrous membrane called the joint capsule, lined with a smoother layer called the synovium, encases the joint architecture. The joint capsule contains the synovial fluid produced by the synovium. The synovial fluid allows for smooth movement of the joint surfaces.
The ankle joint is stabilized by several ligaments, which are fibers that hold these bones in place.

Ankle Fracture Causes

When you stress an ankle joint beyond the strength of its elements, you injure the joint.

If only the ligaments give way and tear, you have sprained the ankle.
If a bone gives way and breaks, you have an ankle fracture.
Fractures can occur with simultaneous tears of the ligaments. You can do this in several ways:
- Rolling the ankle in or out
- Twisting the ankle side to side
- Flexing or extending the joint
- Applying severe force to the joint by coming straight down on it as in jumping from a high level

Ankle Fracture Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ankle injuries and fractures tend to be obvious.

Pain is the most common complaint.
- Often the pain will not come from the exact area of the fracture.
- You may experience associated fractures of your foot (especially on the side of the small toe) or knee that also cause pain.
- It is usually pain in the ankle that stops you from walking.
Swelling frequently occurs around the ankle too.
- Swelling suggests either soft tissue damage with possible blood around the joint or fluid within the joint itself, most likely blood.
- When blood is in the joint, it is called hemarthrosis.
You may see bruising ("black and blue") about the joint, although not immediately. This bruising can track down toward the sole of your foot or toward the toes.
In severe fractures you may see obvious deformities of bones around the ankle.
- Your skin may be stretched over an underlying broken bone.
- You may see actual exposed bone.
If you injure nerves or blood vessels that supply your foot, you may experience even more pain along with pale skin in the foot, numbness, or inability to move your foot or toes.

When to Seek Medical Care

When you have injured an ankle, there several things you can look for to determine whether or not you need to see your doctor or go to an emergency department. The following situations warrant seeing your doctor as soon as possible:

You cannot bear weight on the ankle.
Your pain remains intolerable despite using over-the-counter pain medications.
Home care fails to reduce your pain.

If you are unable to see your doctor and have any of the signs or symptoms of an ankle fracture, you should go to an emergency department as soon as possible.

The following signs and symptoms call for immediate care at an emergency department:

Gross deformity of the ankle bones
Bones visible outside your skin
Intolerable pain despite over-the-counter pain medications
Inability to move your toes
Inability to move your ankle at all
Ankle numbness or partial numbness
Cold or blue foot

Exams and Tests

When a doctor evaluates your ankle, the main task is to determine if you have fractured a bone or if the joint has been damaged sufficiently to have become unstable. Joint instability often suggests multiple fractures, a fracture with a ligament injury, or sometimes ligament injury alone.

The doctor will seek a history of the injury and will ask the following. These questions are important because different mechanisms of injury are associated with different fracture patterns.
- Where does it hurt now?
- How long ago did your injury happen?
- Does your knee, shin, or foot hurt also?
- How did the injury happen?
- Did your ankle turn in or out?
- Did you hear a crack or a pop?
- Were you able to walk immediately after the injury?
- Can you walk now?
- Do you have any new numbness or tingling in your leg, ankle, or foot?
- Have you had previous ankle fractures, sprains, or surgeries?
The doctor will perform a physical exam, looking at or for the following:
- Evidence of bruising, abrasions, or cuts
- Swelling, bleeding, and tissue damage
- Pain, deformities, and the grinding or movement of broken bones of the knee, shin, ankle, and foot
- Pain, excess looseness of a joint, or complete tear in ligaments
- Fluid in the joint and joint stability
- Pulse and evidence of injured blood vessels
- Sensation and movement in both your ankle and foot

If the doctor suspects a broken bone, they will ask for ankle X-rays. The doctor may also ask for X-rays of your knee, shin, or foot, depending on where the pain is.

Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home

If you suspect a fracture, you should call your doctor or go to a hospital's emergency department immediately. You can do the following until you can get to a hospital or doctor's office:

Stay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further.
Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain.
Apply cold packs to the injured area to decrease swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly. Cold packs are effective for up to 48 hours.

Ibuprofen (Advil, , Motrin) may be ideal for ankle injuries because it acts as both a pain medicine and a medicine to keep inflammation down. But check with your doctor first if you have any medical problems or take any other medicines or supplements.

Medical Treatment

The type of fracture and the stability of your joint will determine the type of splint or cast that will be used and how long it will need to be in place.

How long does it take to walk after a broken ankle?

Most of the time, this will be at least 6 to 10 weeks. Putting weight on your ankle too soon may mean the bones do not heal properly. You may need to have your duties at work changed if your job requires walking, standing, or climbing stairs. At a certain point, you will be switched to a weight-bearing cast or splint.

Do you ever fully recover from a broken ankle?

Depending on the severity of your foot and/or ankle fracture, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to fully recover. Speak with your doctor about what recovery may mean for you. Healing takes time, and even after the pain wears off it is important to take it easy.

Can I walk after 3 weeks of ankle fracture?

For most people, it's after about two to six weeks although it may be less or more depending on the type and severity of your fracture. It's crucial to adhere to your doctor's orders not to put any weight on your leg too early as walking on a broken ankle too early can prevent it from healing.

How long do you stay in hospital after broken ankle?

The type of surgery you have had will affect your length of stay, but it would be expected that you may be able to go home after 24 – 48 hours of your operation, unless further treatment is required. You are likely to be in plaster cast for at least six weeks and up to twelve weeks depending on the type of fracture.