Ankle Fracture in Orange County

Our Orange County Podiatrist / Foot and Ankle Surgeon can evaluate and treat your ankle fracture at our Irvine, CA, Huntington Beach, CA, Newport Beach, CA, or Orange, CA offices.

 

What Is an Ankle Fracture?
A fracture is a break in the bone. Ankle Fractures in Orange County can be divided into two categories: traumatic fractures and stress fractures.

Traumatic fractures (also called acute fractures) are caused by a direct blow or impact. They may also occur if you twist your ankle, through falling, or accompanying an ankle sprain. Traumatic fractures can be displaced or non-displaced. If the fracture is displaced, the bone is broken in such a way that it has changed in position (dislocated). 

 

Signs and symptoms of a traumatic fracture in Orange County include:

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• You may hear a sound at the time of the break.

• “Pinpoint pain” (pain at the place of impact) at the time the fracture occurs and perhaps for a few hours later.

• Crooked or abnormal appearance of the foot or ankle.

• Bruising and swelling the next day.

• Inability to walk on the affected ankle without pain.

• It is not true that “if you can walk on it, it’s not broken.” Evaluation by your Orange County Foot and Ankle Surgeon is always recommended.

 

Stress fractures are tiny, hairline breaks that are usually caused by repetitive stress. Stress fractures often afflict athletes who, for example, too rapidly increase their running mileage. They can also be caused by an abnormal foot structure, deformities, or osteoporosis. Improper footwear may also lead to stress fractures. Stress fractures should not be ignored. They require proper medical attention to heal correctly. Our Podiatrist in Orange County can help with your traumatic or stress fracture at our Irvine, CA, Orange, CA, or Huntington Beach, CA offices.

 

Symptoms of stress fractures include:

• Pain with or after normal activity

• Pain that goes away when resting and then returns when standing or during activity

• “Pinpoint pain” (pain at the site of the fracture) when touched

• Swelling, but no bruising.

 

Consequences of Improper Treatment
If an ankle fracture is not treated correctly, serious complications may develop. For example:

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• A deformity in the bony architecture which may limit the ability to move the foot or ankle and may cause difficulty walking or maintaining your balance.

• Arthritis, which may be caused by a fracture in a joint (the juncture where two bones meet), or may be a result of angular deformities that develop when a displaced fracture is severe or hasn’t been properly corrected

• Chronic pain and deformity

• Non-union, or failure to heal, can lead to subsequent surgery or chronic pain.

 

Treatment of Ankle Fractures in Orange County, CA
Ankle fractures are almost always traumatic fractures. Our Orange County Podiatrist can assist with treatment of all ankle fracture types in Orange County. Treatment for traumatic fractures depends on the break itself and may include these options:

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• Rest. No putting weight on the injured ankle can diminish pain and swelling and allow the fracture to heal.

• Splinting. In cases where the ankle is unstable or out of alignment (displaced), you may be fitted with a splint to keep the fracture from worsening or loosing its position.

• Casting or Fracture Boot. Your doctor may place you in a removal cast boot or place you in a cast to protect you from further injury and allow the fracture time to heal.

• Surgery. If the break is badly displaced or if the joint is affected, surgery may be necessary. Surgery involves the use of fixation devices, such as screws, plates, and pins.

• If surgery is required, many can be done on a same day basis at one of our surgery centers in Irvine, Huntington Beach, or Newport Beach, CA.

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Please contact our office in Irvine, Orange, Newport Beach, or Huntington Beach in Orange County, CA to make an appointment with our foot and ankle surgeon / podiatrist (Dr. Coyer) to have your ankle fracture in Orange County fully evaluated and treated.