Any injury to the foot can cause one of the bones forming the ankle joint to break or dislocate. A misstep, fall, or direct trauma can lead to a broken ankle or fracture of the ankle. In this post, we will cover the treatment options available for a broken ankle. 

The treatment for a broken ankle can vary depending on the seriousness of the injury. For example, a sportsman who twisted his ankle while running can use the RICE rule (rest, icing, compression, and elevation) for self-treatment. In comparison, a person riding a motorcycle meets an accident and damages their ankle completely. Such injuries require immediate medical attention and may require surgery. 

In Sanford orthopedic injuries can be treated by consulting reliable orthopedics. A broken ankle can cause difficulty in walking, swelling, deformity, or bruising.

Treatment for a Broken Ankle

1. Ice- A patient with a broken ankle is recommended to apply the ice packs four times a day and not put pressure on the fractured ankle, which will help reduce the swelling and relieve the pain. Patients are suggested to apply an ice pack for 20 minutes for two days. 

2. Rest- Patients are recommended not to put pressure on the broken ankle and wrap the injury to control swelling. This helps the bone to recover faster. The patient is also given a cast or shoe to wear, which helps in stabilizing the foot.

3. Medicine- The patient suffering from a broken ankle feels pain, and the doctor will recommend pain relievers to lessen the pain. 

4. Reduction- If the broken bone has been dislocated from its position, the doctor will relocate to its correct place by using the surgical method. 

5. Splint- Patients who have bimalleolar (breaking of two or three parts of malleolus bone), trimalleolar (breaking of the tibia into three bony sections), or dislocation, the use of the splint is the ideal option to stabilize the broken ankle.

6. Non-Surgically- Patients who have fractures and bones are aligned at a regular position or have very few fractures with tiny pieces. It can be treated with a non-surgical method. X-ray is done regularly to see the positioning of the bone. The fracture is treated by applying a short leg cast, and the patient is not allowed to lift heavy weights for six weeks.

7. Surgery- Patient with a severe ankle break that cannot be treated with a boot or splint. The doctor will recommend surgery and use metallic rods, plates, or screws to relocate the bone. This will keep the bone stable and allow it to heal. This procedure is called internal fixation.

If you have a broken ankle problem, you must consider the above options to heal from the pain quickly.