Published on: 4/24/2025
What are the signs that indicate whether you have sprained your ankle or broken it?
A sprained ankle usually involves pain, swelling, and difficulty walking, while a broken ankle often causes severe pain, significant swelling, and inability to bear weight.
Explanation
When trying to figure out if an ankle is sprained or broken, it's important to look at how it feels and looks. A sprained ankle usually comes with pain and swelling, but you might still be able to walk a little.
Signs of a Sprain:
- Pain and swelling
- Bruising
- Limited movement
- Some ability to walk, though it may hurt
Signs of a Break:
- Severe pain
- Significant swelling
- Bruising
- Unable to put weight on the foot
Ankle injuries can also involve other complications like nerve injuries or be associated with injuries to other parts of the leg, such as the tibia. If the pain is very bad or you can't walk at all, it's important to see a doctor to find out if it's broken. They might need to do special tests, like an X-ray, to be sure.
(References)
- Brief JM, Brief R, Ergas E, Brief LP, & Brief AA. (2009). Peroneal nerve injury with foot drop complicating ankle .... Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases, 20001941.
- Boddenberg U. (2004). [Healing time of foot and ankle fractures in patients with .... Zentralblatt fur Chirurgie, 15616908.
- Jung KJ, Chung CY, Park MS, Chung MK, Lee DY, Koo S, & Lee KM. (2015). Concomitant Ankle Injuries Associated With Tibial Shaft .... Foot & ankle international, 26041543.
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