Is My Ankle Broken or Sprained Quiz - Assess Ankle Injury

Determining If You Have a Broken or Sprained Ankle

Ankle injuries are very common, but it's not always easy to tell if your ankle is broken or just sprained. Both ankle fractures and sprains cause pain, swelling, and difficulty walking on the ankle. So how can you tell what kind of injury you have without an X-ray?

Symptoms of an Ankle Fracture vs. Ankle Sprain

Some key differences between the symptoms of a broken ankle and a sprained ankle include:

• Broken ankles usually cause more severe, intense pain right away, while a sprained ankle has pain that is more dull.
• A broken ankle generally leads to almost no ability to walk on the ankle, whereas with a sprain you still may be able walk with a limp.
• There is often a "crunching" or "popping" sound during the injury when an ankle breaks.
• A sprained ankle usually leads to some bruising, while a broken ankle commonly causes little to no bruising.

Causes of Ankle Fractures vs. Ankle Sprains

The causes of a broken ankle versus an ankle sprain also provide some clues about your injury type:

• Broken ankles are commonly caused by high impact forces, like falls from significant height, car accidents, or contact sports collisions.
• Sprained ankles more often occur from twisting injuries, like stepping awkwardly off a curb, on uneven ground trails, or during activities requiring cutting motions.

Take an Is My Ankle Broken Quiz

One easy way to help determine if your ankle could be broken or sprained is to take a self-assessment quiz. Below are some key questions that provide clues if you may have a fracture versus sprain:

• Did your ankle get twisted, rolled, or bent in an awkward way during the injury?
• Was there a loud "pop" or snapping sound when you hurt your ankle?
• Can you put any weight at all on your injured ankle when trying to stand or walk?
• Is the pain severe, even when sitting still with your ankle elevated?
• Is there major swelling that developed quickly after the injury?
• Is there bruising around the ankle or lower leg?
• Do you have numbness or tingling anywhere in your foot or ankle?

If you answered "yes" to several of these signs, especially the first 3 questions, there is a higher chance your ankle could be broken and you should seek prompt medical attention.

Seeking a Medical Evaluation

While home self-assessments can provide some information, always go to a doctor or emergency care center if you have any concerns about a potential broken bone. Only medical imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans or MRI's can diagnose fractures.

Treating Broken Versus Sprained Ankles

Treatment for ankle injuries focuses on reducing pain and swelling while also immobilizing the joint to prevent further damage. However, management does differ some between broken and sprained ankles.

Treatment for Fractured Ankles

Treatment guidelines for broken ankles include:

• Immediate immobilization - Stabilizing above and below the fracture site is crucial to prevent bone fragment displacement when moving could make injuries worse.
• Casting and splinting - After realigning bones as needed, hardened casts or removable walking boots are often used for 4-8 weeks until the fracture has started to heal.
• Surgery - If bone alignment cannot be restored using closed reduction techniques, or the fracture pattern is unstable, metal plates and screws may be implanted to stabilize fractures.
• Physical therapy – After casting or splinting, physical therapy helps restore ankle and lower extremity flexibility, strength, proprioception, range of motion, and function.

Treatment Guidelines for Sprained Ankles

Recommend treatments for ankle sprains focus on the RICE methodology in early phases, along with the following:

• Rest – Avoid any activity that causes pain in the first 24-72 hours after a sprain.
• Ice – Applying ice packs intermittently for 15-20 minutes over the first 2-3 days decreases swelling and pain.
• Compression – Wrapping the ankle firmly with an elastic bandage compression wrap helps minimize swelling.
• Elevation – Keeping the sprained ankle raised above heart level aids gravity assisted drainage of fluid buildup.
• Over-the-counter medications – Anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Advil, Motrin) help relieve pain and swelling.
• Bracing – Ankle braces, tape jobs, or fitted orthotics support joint stability and restrict unhealthy motions.
• Physical therapy – Once swelling has subsided, PT restores flexibility, strength, balance and function.

Recovering After Ankle Injuries

No matter if it is a broken ankle or ankle sprain, resuming normal activities requires patience to ensure adequate healing. However, there are many techniques that can facilitate faster recovery including:

Early Weight Bearing as Tolerated

For stable ankle fractures treated surgically or ankle sprains, guidelines now promote gradually resuming early weight bearing to encourage healing. Muscles and connective tissues heal strongest when gentle, progressive strains are applied through movement or touch weight bearing.

Physical Therapy

One of the most vital aspects influencing how quickly you can recover from ankle injuries is completing the full course of prescribed physical therapy. Skilled PT's design specialized rehabilitation programs targeting the deficits, flexibility, proprioception, strength deficits, and mobility limitations central to your particular ankle injury.

Bracing

Wearing ankle braces, using crutches or taping during activities protects unstable ankles from re-injury as ligaments regain strength. Braces also help restrict unhealthy motions improving healing alignment and preventing complications.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Fueling your body through smart nutritional choices provides the building blocks essential to healing injuries. Staying well-hydrated and avoiding inflammatory products like alcohol and nicotine also encourage faster recovery.

Using a combination of these techniques under the guidance of your treatment team gives you the best chance of resuming your highest quality of life after ankle injuries as swiftly as possible under your unique circumstances.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.