At any time of the year, the likelihood of injuries to the musculoskeletal system remains high, so the question of whether the ankle can be broken remains open. Very often, ankle damage occurs because it has the greatest load during movement. This damage is dangerous because in the future it will take a long recovery.
Features
The ankle, or also called the ankle, consists of small and large tibia. Depending on which one has received damage, a classification is carried out. The simplest is a fracture of the lower limb in the ankle without displacement. One of the complex ones is the three-ankle one, in which case the small, large tibia and posterior edge of the distal tibia are injured. If there is a break in the external and internal ankle, then this is a two-ankle fracture. There are injuries with subluxation and even dislocation of the foot. They require surgical treatment and subsequent long rehabilitation. There are many different classifications of ankle fractures that the orthopedic trauma surgeon uses in everyday work. The most common division is open and closed.
Symptomatology
If a leg is broken in the ankle, then the person will be tormented by pain in the damaged area, which can be either acute or aching. Small bruises and bruises appear under the skin. If an ankle fracture is observed, then the foot may become deformed, if the skin ruptures, blood will start to leak from the wound, and broken bones will come out.
A broken ankle will declare itself:
- crunch due to violation of the integrity of the bone;
- swelling of the foot;
- the presence of edema;
- the occurrence of chills;
- the inability to stand on the foot;
- numbness of a sick limb.
Discomfort can occur both immediately after an injury, and after some time with loads on a sore leg. This often happens if the ankle is broken without displacement. In this case, mild symptoms are most often observed. A characteristic sign: if, when you press the center of the ankle, the pain is located at the fracture site. The formation of puffiness occurs due to damage to the capillaries, which are responsible for the exchange of fluids between tissues. A swelling appears in the ankle region. Sometimes the only sign of a fracture is heel hemorrhage and hematomas. If the ankle is broken with an offset, then a pain shock is noted with extensive damage to other parts of the body.
Causes
Often a person receives such an injury due to:
- failed fall;
- getting hit in the joint area;
- tucking the foot.
A high probability of getting this kind of fracture is observed in:
- old people;
- children
- pregnant and lactating due to lack of calcium.
These injuries are prone to people whose diet does not have foods rich in calcium, as well as suffering from diseases:
- bones
- adrenal glands and kidneys;
- thyroid gland.
Diagnostics
To the question of if you broke your ankle, what to do, there is the only answer - consult a doctor for a mandatory x-ray in a direct, lateral and oblique projection. The patient in various patches occupies a different position. During an X-ray in direct protection, a person lies on his back, while bending the knee joint. Lateral projection is also performed in a supine position, on the side on which the fracture occurred. The patient bends the knees, and the broken lower limb pushes forward. The oblique type of protection is similar to the side one, only you need to lie on a healthy side, a pillow is placed between the legs, and the broken ankle must be tilted to the table.
Pronational abduction fracture
This kind of damage appears when the turn of the foot is reinforced. In this situation, separation occurs at the base of the inner ankle with a parallel fracture of the outer part. The latter happens in the articular joint, or slightly higher, where the tibia has the thinnest spot.
Supination-adduction fracture
This type of injury occurs due to excessive turning of the foot inward. The upper part of the outer ankle may come off, or a fracture will occur at the joint connection level. Basically, the damage line is higher than in the previous case, the lower inner part of the tibia is also covered.
Rotational fracture
The rotational view according to the degree of destruction is considered the most dangerous and complex. It can be obtained while spinning on the lower leg with a fixed foot. Such an injury is fraught with:
- fracture of the tibia of a fragmentation type;
- dislocation of the foot in any direction;
- fracture of the tibia of a rotational nature.
An isolated extensor fracture of the anterior edge of the tibia
This injury is an ankle fracture with a displacement that can occur with a direct foot strike or increased back flexion. A fragment like a triangle is formed on the front surface. Isolated flexion fracture of the posterior edge of the tibia is very rare.
First aid
A broken ankle is well treated if first aid is properly provided. If even several symptoms are found, you need to call an ambulance. To begin with, the victim must take a stationary position. Under the injured limb, it is necessary to put a roller, making it at least out of clothes, so that the leg is at a low height. Until she is swollen, take off her shoes. It is forbidden to touch a damaged joint, because improper handling can lead to a closed fracture to an open. In order to relieve swelling, you need to apply something cold.
An open fracture requires stopping bleeding. For these purposes, you need a tourniquet, which you can build from any thing and put it above the wound. Only after that a cold compress is applied around her, which will help to stop bleeding faster and relieve swelling.
It is necessary to try to immobilize the limb with a tire that can be built from improvised materials:
- branches
- plywood;
- shovels and other things.
It is forbidden to try to put the protruding bones in place or to connect them, this is fraught with further ruptures of soft tissues and the spread of fragments. If the victim is unable to tolerate pain, then it is allowed to drink an anesthetic before the doctor arrives.
Treatment
After the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will begin to restore the normal position of the bone fragments. For this case, plaster dressings, special devices are used, it can be a derotational boot. Victims ask if the ankle is broken, how long to walk in the cast - until the bone is completely fused.
Due to the presence of the plaster cast, freedom of movement is limited, and it is forbidden to step on the leg in the cast. The time it is worn is determined by:
- the complexity of the injury;
- type - fracture open, closed, with displacement or without it;
- collateral damage;
- the presence of complications.
If the ankle is broken, how many walk in a cast? The timing of wearing plaster casts depends on the particular tissue repair of a particular person. Everyone's bones heal differently. On average, it takes 4 to 7 weeks to heal a simple fracture, but if there is a displacement, then it will take at least 4 months to heal.
If the case is severe, then surgical intervention is required. Fragments are fixed with metal screws and plates.
Treatment of an open ankle fracture is performed using the Ilizarov compression-distraction apparatus. It will have to be worn until the bone fuses. So that the inflammatory process does not develop again, the patient is prescribed to take a course of antibiotics. To prevent the occurrence of infection, the surface of the skin is treated with antiseptic solutions. If the patient is treated in a hospital, they are prescribed it in the presence of persistent positive dynamics, namely, proper bone fusion and healing of damaged skin.
How long a broken ankle will be restored is affected by the age of the victim, general health and the presence of chronic diseases. Unlike men and women in children, such an injury heals much faster. The speed of bone fusion is also affected by the way gypsum is applied. An increase in wearing time and a slowdown in the recovery process are observed if the dressing is too tight or the dressings are not evenly distributed. This leads to impaired blood flow and fluid outflow.
Rehabilitation
It is important not to neglect the recommendations of the attending physician. Bed rest should be observed. It is impossible to rely on a limb for 1 month and stand on it without the use of auxiliary objects - crutches. To prevent swelling of the ankle, the leg should be at rest and on any height, it may be a pillow.
The recovery process will help speed up various procedures, including physiotherapy and massage, whose main goal is to restore foot mobility for free walking as quickly as possible without outside help.
A broken ankle can hurt while wearing a special apparatus or plaster cast, and also after they are removed. This is because as a result of prolonged inactivity, the muscles and ligaments become weak. Classes with a rehabilitation doctor will help correct this situation. Physiotherapy exercises contribute to:
- elimination of blood flow disorders;
- muscle strengthening;
- the gradual return of limb natural mobility.
The state of the vessels begins to return to normal, the risk of developing muscle atrophy is eliminated. With regular exercises, the fracture heals much faster. In the photo of a broken ankle, you can see that such a problem must be treated.
Physiotherapeutic procedures such as magnetotherapy and electrophoresis help the bones recover as soon as possible. These tasks are performed by a special bandage. When wearing this device, which fits the leg tightly, repeated injuries, sprains and fractures are excluded. The bandage evenly distributes the load on the affected joint, which helps to relieve tension, often causing pain.
If even after 3 months after the fracture, the leg continues to hurt, be sure to consult a doctor. One of the most common reasons for having such a prolonged pain syndrome is a misdiagnosis or illiterate treatment. In these situations, surgical intervention is often required. How much a broken ankle heals also depends on nutrition. If there are errors, then healing will take much more time.
Doctors Recommendations
Doctors advise not to skip the procedure, no matter how difficult. When it will be possible to lean lightly on the leg, you should not expose it to heavy load. The sooner after removal of the immobilizing dressing a person will engage in the development of the muscles of the leg and the injured joint that are in long isolation, the faster the full-fledged motor activity of the broken ankle is restored. However, doctors recommend not to rush, everything must be done, listening to their own feelings. At first, most likely, any movements will cause pain, but you need not to back down and continue to restore motor function. At the slightest suspicion of an ankle fracture, you need to consult a traumatologist. Otherwise, the problem will only worsen, and health will be in great danger. Only timely treatment can lead to a complete cure and restoration of leg function.