Table of Contents
Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment Options
- Rest: Rest is key.
- Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation.
- Compression: Wrapping the injury helps control swelling.
- Elevation: Keep your foot and ankle raised slightly above the level of your heart to help reduce inflammation.
Can you walk on a fractured ankle?
Broken ankle — can you still walk? Typically, a minor ankle fracture won’t prevent you from walking. You might even be able to walk right after the injury. If you have a serious break, you’ll need to avoid walking for a few months.
How long does it take for a fractured ankle to heal?
A broken ankle usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but it can take longer. The doctor will tell you: how long you’ll have to wear the boot or have the plaster cast on. how much weight to put on your ankle – you may be given crutches or a walking frame to help keep weight off it.
How long will my ankle be swollen after fracture?
The foot and ankle become swollen, painful and can no longer hold any weight. It takes several days or weeks for the swelling to go down completely, and can take months for the ankle joint to fully recover from the fracture.
What is the fastest way to heal a hairline fracture?
Treatment. The majority of hairline fractures will heal by themselves if the person refrains from activities that put a strain on the affected area. For the first 24 to 48 hours, a person can help the healing process by elevating the affected area and applying ice where possible.
How can I tell if I have a hairline fracture in my foot?
Symptoms
- Pain that diminishes during rest.
- Pain that occurs and intensifies during normal, daily activities.
- Swelling on the top of the foot or on the outside of the ankle.
- Tenderness to touch at the site of the fracture.
- Possible bruising.
Can you walk on a fractured foot?
Most foot fractures take 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Healing time varies, so ask your doctor when you can resume normal activities. Most people make a full recovery and can walk again after breaking a foot. However, complications are possible.
How much force does it take to break an ankle?
As a rough estimate, it would take 218 pounds of pressure to produce a tibial fracture in a healthy adult using a hammer. You could decrease the force requirement by choosing a tool with less surface area, such as a hatchet—then again, you’d be increasing the risk of soft tissue damage and significant blood loss.
Is a walking boot better than a cast?
Short-leg walking boots (WBs) have been reported to be an effective alternative to plaster casts (PCs) that could shorten this postoperative recuperative period. The aim of this study was to compare the functional recovery of a conventional PC with that of a WB after surgery for ankle fractures.
What happens if a hairline fracture is untreated?
Ignoring a hairline fracture can lead to a more serious fracture or break occurring, which is more difficult to treat. If not treated or ignored, the hairline may not heal, resulting in a non-union fracture.
How can I tell if my ankle is broken or fractured?
With a sprain, you feel pain. But if you have numbness or tingling, your ankle is most likely broken. Where is the pain? If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over your ankle bone, you probably have a fracture.
Can you walk on a hairline fracture?
Medical treatments. Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches to keep weight off an injured foot or leg. You can also wear protective footwear or a cast. Because it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to completely heal from a hairline fracture, it’s important to modify your activities during that time.
Is a fracture a break?
A crack (not only a break) in the bone is also known as a fracture. Fractures can occur in any bone in the body. There are several different ways in which a bone can fracture; for example, a break to the bone that does not damage surrounding tissue or tear through the skin is known as a closed fracture.
How do you heal a sprained ankle overnight?
Treatment
- Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
- Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you’re awake.
- Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.
- Elevation.
Can you move your toes if your ankle is broken?
Most believe that if they can wiggle their toes or move the ankle around that an ankle fracture has not occurred. The reason this is not true is because the nerves and muscles that allow the movement of the ankle have not been affected by the fracture.
What do you do for a fractured ankle?
Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home
- 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.
Does a fractured ankle need a cast?
Without surgery, your ankle will be placed in a cast or splint for 4 to 8 weeks. The length of time you must wear a cast or splint depends on the type of fracture you have. Your cast or splint may be changed more than once, as your swelling goes down.
Why does broken ankle hurt more at night?
Bone stress injuries occur because of an unfamiliar increase in physical activity and is related to overuse, under recovery and several considerations that result in the bone not being able to keep up with the required adaptations. A fracture can result and this will cause pain at night time.
What does a fractured foot feel like?
Signs and symptoms of a broken foot may include pain, limping, swelling, bruising, and refusal to bear weight on the affected foot. Initial treatment may include RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Rest may include the use of crutches to limit weight bearing.
