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Fractured Ankles and Critical Information that you Need to Know when you or your Child is Injured

Fractures and broken bones in children result from a variety of different accidents. A broken ankle is a common type of fracture in children and adults. Ankle fractures can occur from car accidents, slip and falls or even a heavy object falling upon the foot or ankle. Ankle fractures may sometimes be treated without surgery but most are severe enough that surgery is necessary to repair the fracture. For you or your child, a fractured ankle can result in torn ligaments and severe pain and will require immediate medical treatment. If you or your child has suffered a fractured ankle as a result of an accident or another person's negligence, the attorneys at the law firm of Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola, LLP can help you.

A broken ankle is also known as an ankle fracture. What this means is that one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint are separated into pieces. Ligaments may also be damaged as well. The ankle joint is made up of three bones; the tibia, fibula and talus. The more of these bones that are broken in the ankle, as well as ligaments that may be damaged, the more unstable the ankle becomes.

A fractured ankle can range from a simple break in one bone, such as a lateral malleolus fracture which involves a fracture to the fibula, to a trimalleolar fracture, which involves the fracture of three bones of the leg. This type of fracture can dislocate your ankle and may sometimes require that it not bear weight for an extended period of time after surgery.

The most common causes of a broken ankle include:

• Car accident - The injuries common in car accidents may cause ankle fractures severe enough to require surgical repair.
• Falls - Tripping and falling can break bones in your ankles or feet, as can landing on your feet after falling from a great height.
• Impact from a heavy object - Something heavy dropping or falling on your foot is a common cause of ankle fractures.
  

Anatomy of the Ankle
The ankle is a complex structure made up of many bones and ligaments, which help stabilize the joints, and contains two separate joints that allow for up and down and lateral movement of the foot.

• Three bones make up the ankle joint
  - Tibia (the large bone in your lower leg)
  - Fibula (the small, thin bone on the outside of your tibia)
  - Talus (a bone that is at the top of the foot)
• The tibia and fibula have specific parts that make up the ankle:
  - Medial malleolus: Inside part of the tibia
  - Posterior malleolus: Back part of the tibia
  - Lateral malleolus: End of the fibula (foot end)
• There are two joints are involved in ankle fractures:
  - Ankle joint
  - The connection between the tibia and fibula, which is held together by thick, connective ligaments, known as syndesmosis.

What are the Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle
Because a severe ankle sprain can feel the same as a broken ankle, it is recommended that every ankle injury should be evaluated by an orthopedist.
Some common complaints/symptoms for a broken or fractured ankle include:

• Immediate and severe pain in the ankle or lower leg
• Swelling of the foot and lower leg
• Bruising to the ankle and foot, both above and below
• Any part of the lower leg is tender to the touch
• You cannot put any weight on the injured foot
• Any type of deformity around the ankle

Diagnosis of a Fractured Ankle
X-rays are the most common way to evaluate an injured ankle. Usually, your orthopedist will order that X-rays be taken of the leg, ankle, and foot to make sure nothing else is injured.

Occasionally, a computed tomography, or CT scan, is ordered to further evaluate ankle injuries. As X-rays and CT Scans are useful in diagnosing broken bones, an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, may be done to evaluate if the injury has damaged any of the ligaments that make up the ankle joint.

Treatment: Ankle Fractures
Nonsurgical Treatment
If the fracture is non displaced, which means that the bone is still aligned, and the ankle is stable, your orthopedist may not recommend surgery. You may be able to bear weight on the leg soon after the accident, while some fractures may require you to be off of your feet for up to 6 weeks. Your orthopedist may place your leg in a hard cast or a walking boot, depending on the location of the fracture.

Surgical Treatment
If the fracture is displaced or your ankle is unstable, which may also indicate ligament damage, your fracture may be treated with surgery. To make your ankle stable, a plate and screws on the side of the bone or a screw or rod inside the bone may be used to re-align the bone fragments and keep them together as they heal.

If you or your child has suffered a broken ankle, make sure that you receive appropriate medical care with an orthopedist; maintain a record of your medical treatment; avoid speaking with any insurance adjusters before you speak to a personal injury attorney; and if you or your child has suffered a bone injury or fractured ankle, you need the advice of an experienced Staten Island, New York personal injury attorney. Call Frank J. Dito, Jr. today at (800) 310-5520 for your free consultation.

                                                                                                       
Frank J. Dito, Jr., Esq. a member of the "Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum", is an experienced trial attorney who represents injured individuals and their families. Frank is the author of "A Lawyers Guide to Car Insurance" , the publisher of the "New York Injury Law Blog" and he is a frequent speaker regarding the recovery of benefits and the preservation of rights resulting from accidents and work place injuries. If you or a family member has been injured in an accident or in the work place contact Frank J. Dito, Jr. to discuss your legal rights and how he assists clients in obtaining the benefits and compensation that they are entitled to.