Welcome to fractures Guide
Fractures Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
Ankle Fractures Are More than Just Sprains
from:For many years, people didn't fully understand what fractures were. In fact, they often thought they were less serious than a broken bone, when they are actually one in the same. You would hear people make comments like, "well at least it's only a fracture and nothing is broken." Because of these mistaken beliefs, many fractures took twice as long to heal, as they should have because they were not given the proper treatment or taken seriously enough.
Ankle fractions are often not taken seriously enough either. The ankle is the part of our leg that supports most of the weight of our body so any injury to the ankle should be taken seriously, specifically ankle fractures. An ankle fracture in either a complete or a partial break of the bone in the ankle. Ankle fractures can be less serious injuries like a small piece of bone being stripped or pulled or they may be serious where the fibula or tibia re shattered quite severely. The most common cause of ankle fractures are the ankle being twisted or rolled either outward or inward. Both of these instances can cause instant and sometimes severe pain. Without proper medical attention, we have no way of knowing the severity of the break so we may be doing further damage to a very important part of the body. Many people mistake ankle sprains for ankle fractures, but they are very different and require different treatment as well as early treatment. Ankle sprains and ankle fractures can occur at the same time, which is why it is paramount that the patient seeks medical treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms of ankle fractures can be just a few or many. Some of the more common symptoms are pain at the ankle or possibly right up to the knee, swelling on just the ankle or possibly the entire leg, bruising shortly after the injury, inability to walk or very difficult, difference of appearance from the uninjured ankle and a bone sticking out of the skin, which requires immediate attention.
It is very important to see a doctor as soon as you possibly can. However, if you can't get to the hospital right away, there are a few things you can do to help. This method of home treatment is considered the R.I.C.E. method:
• Rest-It is important to stay off the ankle to prevent further damage
• Ice- Apply ice over a towel to the ankle to prevent or reduce the pain and swelling. Never apply the ice directly on your skin.
• Compression- Either wear a compression stocking or wrap it in an elastic bandage to prevent swelling.
• Elevation- Keep the entire foot elevated to prevent or reduce swelling.
Related Articles for Fractures
Fractures News
Fractures more than unlucky breaks - Sydney Morning Herald
Fractures more than unlucky breaks Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - But though fractures heal, they also increase the risk of dying. Nobody knows why, but 20 per cent of people die within six to 12 months of a hip fracture, ... |
US cyclist Hammer fractures clavicle in crash - Sports Network
US cyclist Hammer fractures clavicle in crash Sports Network - Beijing, China (Sports Network) - United States cyclist Sarah Hammer suffered a fractured clavicle during a crash Monday during the women's points race ... |
US Oil Companies Finding More Oil in Old Fields - Voice of America
 Voice of America | US Oil Companies Finding More Oil in Old Fields Voice of America - One problem, Baldauf says, is that oil tends to be in vertical fractures in the rock that are difficult to hit with a drill. "If you are trying to drill a ... |
A US Olympic team doctor blogs from Beijing: The guts, the glory ... - Los Angeles Times
A US Olympic team doctor blogs from Beijing: The guts, the glory ... Los Angeles Times, CA - "More significant things are small fractures, which can be taped, and if it’s not too serious the athlete may keep competing. Most things are muscle strains ... |
Royals OF Maier hit in face by pitch, fractures three bones - USA Today
 TSN.ca | Royals OF Maier hit in face by pitch, fractures three bones USA Today - Maier was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which revealed the fractures below his right eye. The 26-year-old returned to the Royals' clubhouse after Kansas ... Royals' Maier injured by pitch Indians use long ball to power past Royals Tribe survives bad inning |