If you have ever played basketball, tennis, volleyball, or even walked on an uneven sidewalk, you may have been a victim of an ankle sprain. With almost every sprain there is an ominous “pop” or significant bruising.
For the 25,000 people who suffer from an ankle sprain each day in the United States alone, it is possible that the popping sound or bruise that covers the entire outside of the foot may be a fracture instead. Unfortunately, the things we subconsciously hold synonymous with a sprain can also happen with a fracture.
Although there are many variations of a fracture, the definition is quite simple. It is a break or interruption in bone continuity. But what exactly is a sprain? An ankle sprain isn’t as straightforward as a fracture. It involves some level of damage to a ligament, whose role is to support the interaction between two bones. The damage can be a partial tear, complete tear, or stretching of the ligament. This results in pain and instability of the joint.
Can you walk on a broken or fractured ankle?
It may be possible to walk on minor breaks, so do not let this be a determining factor as to whether or not you have a broken or fractured ankle. Additionally, in both fractures and sprains, you can have pain, swelling, and bruising.
For those of us with an X-ray machine or MRI handy, it can be fairly easy to discern between the two. But how do you know the difference without advanced imaging or X-ray vision?
Here are 5 signs that your ankle sprain may be a fracture:
1) Inability to place weight on your foot
The main function of a ligament is the stability of the ankle, they are mostly stressed in side-to-side movement. Most people with an ankle sprain can walk or at least place weight on their foot without significant pain. There are always outliers to this generalization, but the pain level with a fracture is going to be much higher, especially when placing weight on that area.
2) Pain directly to the bone
The ankle is made up of the fibula (outside bone), tibia (inside bone), and the talus, which is the part of the foot connected to the ankle. Although ligament injuries can cause pain at the edges of those bones (because it is where they attach), a fracture will have pain in a much larger area.
Pressing upwards along the ankle bone is not going to commonly produce pain in the setting of a sprain. Be sure to also check the fifth metatarsal bone, which is located on the outside of the foot. This is commonly fractured during an ankle sprain, but also easily missed.
3) Visible protrusion of the bone
Swelling is common in both a fracture and a sprain, but a fracture results in a piece of bone becoming unstable from the rest of the bone. In most cases, the surrounding soft tissue provides enough support to keep the bone in place. In some instances, the fractured piece of bone is moved out of position. This results in a protrusion of bone which can be visually evident on examination.
4) Bruising extending higher up the leg
Similar to swelling, bruising accompanies almost every ankle sprain and fracture. Ligaments tend to be located at the tips of the bones in the ankle. Because of this, any bruising will be located around the tips of those bones. Bones are very vascular, meaning they have a lot of blood flow, which results in more bruising.
A fracture that occurs at the tip of the bone can have similar bruising patterns, but many fractures occur higher up the leg. The resulting bruising can be seen extending higher up the ankle.
5) Persistent pain
Pain is likely to accompany both an ankle sprain and a fracture. With appropriate treatment of rest, ice, and compression, most ankle sprains have a significant decrease in pain after the first week. If your pain continues beyond that point, there is a higher likelihood that more extensive injuries are present.
Not all ankle sprains or fractures will adhere to these general rules. Certain ankle sprains can require extensive treatment and a longer recovery time. Because of this, it is always critical to have a prompt evaluation by a physician. A podiatrist can ensure you receive early, proper treatment, a quicker recovery, and better long-term results.
Why choose Dr. Bob Baravarian for Ankle Pain?
Dr. Bob is a nationally recognized expert in the field of foot and ankle care. He has decades of experience and prides himself on offering the best and most advanced care.
To schedule a consultation, please call (855) 557-5400 or make an appointment now.
Dr. Bob Baravarian is conveniently located in Los Angeles, near Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, providing expert foot and ankle care for patients throughout Southern California.
