Ankle fractures occur frequently in active individuals. The amount of damage done depends on the amount of twisting of the ankle, the condition of the ankle prior to the injury, the weight of the individual, the quality of the bone and other more general factors. Along with a fracture, there may be a small amount of soft tissue damage or the injury can be so severe that the ankle can be displaced out of its normal position (dislocation). Your doctor can make an assessment of the injury, and if a fracture is suspected, you will more than likely need an X-ray.
Treatment of an ankle fracture depends on the amount of damage done. If there is a fracture which is not out of place (the majority of these fractures), then a cast and review at the clinic will be sufficient. A hard boot can be sufficient in a proportion of cases- best decided upon by your doctor. If there is more than one side of the ankle involved or the bones are out of place, then the doctor may wish to discuss surgery to improve the outcomes of the treatment. Either way, this will most likely require a cast for approximately 6 weeks. After this time, physiotherapy is required to rehabilitate properly from the injury.
