A broken ankle, or an ankle fracture, is often caused by rolling the ankle, rotating the ankle, tripping, or falling. A fractured ankle is when one or more bones of the ankle joint are broken, which typically requires keeping weight off of the injury for a period of time. Dr. Russell Grimes, Dr. Ben Olsen, and Dr. Ross Bartley of Pivotal Foot and Ankle Surgeons encourage you to seek their medical services if experiencing pain related to an ankle injury in Kansas City, and St. Joseph, MO.

Treatment and Diagnosis

The ankle joint is made up of three bones that you might have learned about in school. There is the tibia, which is commonly referred to as the shinbone, a large bone in the leg that stretches from below your knee to your ankle. The fibula is positioned next to the tibia, but it's smaller. The third bone is the talus which is situated between the two bones mentioned prior and the heel bone, attaching the leg to the foot.

In order to make an informed diagnosis, our surgeons at Pivotal Foot and Ankle will have to examine the ankle fracture by taking x-rays to determine the precise positioning of the break. If you have any shifts in the ankle joint, or severely cracked bones, you're likely to have a cast placed on your ankle. Crutches may also be recommended to provide additional support in keeping weight off of your foot as it heals.

In the case of irregular or shattered bones, surgery will likely be unavoidable to ensure your ankle is readjusted. A procedure is also needed to remove any remaining fragments from the ankle fracture.

Rehabilitation

Broken bones require patience during the recovery period, to provide proper healing of the ankle. It's important to regularly visit your Kansas City, or St. Joseph, MO, surgeons to assure your full ankle fracture recovery. Depending on the healing progress, your cast may be removed and replaced with a brace. Rebuilding lost strength before your ankle fracture is another critical factor for healing, and maintaining physical therapy is typically advised.

At Pivotal Foot and Ankle Surgeons, our team in Kansas City, and St. Joseph, MO, is dedicated to properly treating your ankle fracture to avoid any further pain. Call Dr. Grimes, Dr. Olsen, and Dr. Bartley at (816) 364-2338 to book an appointment.